Introduction

The renewable energy is one of the key to development conservation and sustainable environment. This keeping with Malaysia since it has launched the fifth energy source policy (renewable energy) in year 2001. The existence of this research centre can realize the important strategy in encouraging the use of renewable energy in Malaysia. The mission of this centre is to be an excellence centre and the focus country for research and development of solar energy technology. Moreover, the vision is to generate special expertise and manpower skills resources in the thermal system field through research and can compete at national level and regional. The study fields that operate by this centre are solar drying system, solar water heater, hybrid system to hydrogen production and photovoltaic-thermal solar system. Most of the research was carried out in Taman Penyelidikan Tenaga Suria, UKM. This garden is the only particular garden in Malaysia which displays research result and technology development of solar energy. This garden has been visited before by the Minister of energy and science & technology from the OIC countries. These systems had successfully win awards of national and international level exhibitions such as in South Korea, Geneva, and Belgium.