Madrid: National sewerage company Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd has won the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) Award category at the Global Water Awards 2026 in Madrid, Spain, last Tuesday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, IWK said in a statement today that the award, presented by Global Water Intelligence (GWI), recognised the company's entry titled 'Solar-powered Sanitation: No Upfront Cost, Cuts Emissions'. The entry showcased how the use of renewable energy could enhance wastewater treatment operational performance while promoting sustainable infrastructure development and boosting financial resilience.
IWK's statement elaborated that the award-winning programme involved the implementation of solar energy systems at 16 sewage treatment plants across the nation through a Private Financing Initiative (PFI) model. This initiative generates a solar energy capacity of 6.3 MWp and produces approximately 7,700 MWh of renewable energy annually to treat nearly 148 million m3 of wastewater every year. It is anticipated to save approximately RM41.8 million in grid electricity costs and reduce more than 5 Gg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually.
IWK chief executive officer Narendran Maniam emphasized in the statement that sustainability is central to the company's operations, and this initiative underscores IWK's ongoing commitment to ensuring sustainability from both environmental and financial perspectives.
Meanwhile, GWI founder, chief executive officer and publisher Christopher Gasson highlighted that IWK's initiative demonstrated how innovative financing and renewable energy could be seamlessly integrated into essential sanitation infrastructure. He noted that by achieving measurable operational, environmental and financial impacts without requiring upfront public capital expenditure, IWK has established a model for utilities worldwide to emulate in their efforts to achieve SDG 6 and develop more resilient water systems.
The Global Water Awards, held alongside the Global Water Summit, aim to honor outstanding achievements, leadership in sustainability, and technological innovation in the global water industry. In 2023, IWK was also recognized with the Distinction Award in the Public Water Agency of the Year category at the Global Water Awards.