University of Malaya - UM Power Energy Dedicated Advanced Centre (UMPEDAC)

Despite its humble beginnings in the year 2000, a small research laboratory with only a handful of engineering students with limited funds and facilities, UMPEDAC rose through the ranks to emerge as the nationally acclaimed Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) in Engineering Research Cluster in 2009 that it is today. UMPEDAC’s full range of services today other than the research work and the consultations include professional testing of solar farm applications, continuous professional development programs in practical engineering applications, provision of specialist research facilities for hire, and the postgraduate programs on offer across all fields of power and energy.

UMPEDAC’s success stories had begun with the award-winning 7.5 kW elevator drive prototype, produced in collaboration with MS Elevators Sdn. Bhd. The award was the 2008 AKSA (Anugerah Kualiti Sektor Awam) bestowed by MAMPU (Modernisation of Administration and Management Planning Unit). On top of that, UMPEDAC received a prestigious award for UMPEDAC researchers’ achievement in 2016; Malaysia’s Rising Stars for Prof. Dr. Nasrudin Abd Rahim and Dr. Che Hang Seng under the category International Collaboration and Frontier Researcher, respectively; in 2014; HLAF Lifetime Achievement Award by Human Life Advancement Foundation; 2012, IEEE Industry Application Society (IAS) prestigious award for the paper titled “Asymmetrical Transistor Clamped H Bridge Cascaded Multilevel Inverter”. A current challenge that in due time should also prove a resounding success is the commercialization of a grid-connected inverter; the research work had been funded by UNDP-GEF to the tune of RM2.4 million. Industrial consultancy engagements have so far netted in a total of RM1.5 million, secured via the provisions of CRDF (Commercialisation of Research and Development Fund), Technofund, industry links with MS Elevators (for design and development of hardware and software for lift system) and Prestigious Discovery (for research into SCADA and DPDAS, i.e., District Power Distribution Automation System). UMPEDAC’s vision for an empowered Malaysia capable of a global presence and perhaps world leadership in renewable energy continues to be powered by its mission to improve quality of life for the nation through innovations by its research into power and energy.

Vision

Empowering Malaysia with the capability to become a regional leader in power energy.

Mission

Researching innovations that not only benefit the nation and improve quality of life, but also raise Malaysia’s standard of research in power energy and its related fields

Objectives