(Kuala Lumpur, October 12) A utility-scale solar farm can hold thousands of panels across a vast site, and a single soiled panel or faulty string quietly cuts output until someone finds it. Malaysian developer HLGY Energy wants machines to do more of that finding. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with U Mobile to explore drones, AI and private 5G at its solar farms. The HLGY Energy U Mobile deal places four clear bets on how HLGY Energy solar assets will be run.
Important warning: The technologies described are being explored under a Memorandum of Understanding and are not yet confirmed as fully deployed. Timelines, performance outcomes and commercial benefits may change as testing and implementation progress.
Bet 1: HLGY Energy Drone Inspection Replaces Routine Walk-Throughs
HLGY Energy drone inspection is the most visible bet. Autonomous drones fly pre-set routes over panel arrays and capture imagery of every row, covering ground that technicians would otherwise walk in the heat.
| Comparison | Manual inspection | Drone inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Technicians walk the site on a schedule | Drones fly pre-set routes autonomously |
| Coverage | Limited by staff time | Systematic coverage of the full array |
| Records | Notes taken by hand | Digital imagery that can be compared over time |
| Staff exposure | Long hours outdoors | Less time on site for routine checks |
Technicians remain essential for repairs. The change is that their time goes to fixing problems rather than searching for them.
Bet 2: Private 5G Becomes the Site’s Nervous System
The second bet is connectivity. Under the MoU, U Mobile will act as HLGY Energy’s innovation, automation and communications infrastructure provider, exploring a private 5G network built on its ULTRA5G platform.
A private 5G network runs separately from the public mobile network and serves a single site. Drone footage, CCTV video and equipment data all need to move at once, and a dedicated network keeps that traffic secure and uncontested. U Mobile recently reached 90% nationwide 5G coverage, nine months ahead of schedule, and is now pushing its network into enterprise use.
Bet 3: HLGY Energy AI Solar Analytics Catch Faults Early
The third bet is HLGY Energy AI solar analytics. AI systems review incoming imagery and data to flag soiled panels, damage and faulty strings, then point maintenance crews to the exact location. Smart CCTV adds round-the-clock security monitoring.
“Our collaboration with U Mobile brings together solar energy expertise and private 5G connectivity to explore how AI and automation can improve the way we operate and manage our solar assets,” said HLGY Energy Chairman and Executive Director Kenneth Yap Kian Hoong.
Bet 4: HLGY Energy Malaysia Ties Reliability to Corporate Green Power
The final bet links technology to business. HLGY Energy Malaysia develops and operates utility-scale solar under the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), including the Kedah Rubber City Solar Power Plant. CRESS lets developers supply green electricity to companies through the national grid, so a farm’s uptime directly affects corporate buyers.
Yap said combining AI with solar generation and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can optimise when energy is stored and supplied, reducing electricity costs and extending equipment life. U Mobile Chief Business Officer How Lih Ren said the aim is to help HLGY Energy build renewable assets that are safer, more efficient and increasingly autonomous.
The Reality Check on HLGY Energy’s Plan
Manual inspection is not ending tomorrow. The HLGY Energy agreement is an MoU, and the private 5G network and its applications are at the exploration stage. Deployment timelines, drone models and AI performance figures have not been published.
What Readers Most Want to Know About HLGY Energy
Will HLGY Energy stop using human inspectors?
No. HLGY Energy plans to use drones and AI for routine monitoring, while technicians continue to handle repairs and on-site work. The system helps crews find problems faster.
Is the HLGY Energy private 5G network already running?
No. HLGY Energy and U Mobile signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the network. As of October 2026, it is at the exploration stage.
Why does HLGY Energy’s plan matter to businesses?
HLGY Energy supplies green electricity to companies under CRESS. Earlier fault detection means steadier generation, which gives corporate buyers more dependable clean power.
HLGY Energy Contact Details
HLGY Energy’s four bets — drones, private 5G, AI analytics and reliable corporate supply — point to a solar farm that watches itself more closely than any inspection rota could. The next milestone is moving from MoU to a working site.