Inside TNB’s Immersive Tunnel At ETCon26: A Walk Through Malaysia’s Energy Transition

By Maizatul Jamny Muhammad Rosli

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- Visitors stepping into Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) ‘immersive tunnel’ at the ongoing Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26) are not merely walking through an exhibition pathway but through an imagery vision of how Malaysia’s energy landscape could evolve over the next quarter-century.

Undoubtedly a novel and major attraction, the tunnel lined with interactive digital displays and animated visualisations, transforms complex concepts such as renewable energy, battery storage, hydrogen, carbon capture and even nuclear power into an experience that can be seen, touched and explored.

Instead of static information boards, visitors are greeted by moving graphics, illuminated panels and touch-enabled exhibits that tell the story of the country’s journey towards net-zero emissions.

At one end of the tunnel, a sweeping visual timeline charts the anticipated transformation of the energy mix from 2025 to 2050 where the display illustrates how emerging technologies, including hydrogen and nuclear energy could complement existing generation sources as electricity demand continues to rise.

Further along, visitors encounter interactive exhibits showcasing technologies that are expected to play a growing role in the transition such as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), floating solar installations, hydropower facilities and regional power interconnections which are presented not as technical jargon, but as visual experiences designed to make the future of energy easier to understand.

A particularly eye-catching section focuses on floating solar technology, where digital renderings demonstrate how solar panels can be deployed on existing water bodies, allowing clean energy generation without competing for valuable land resources.

Another area highlights the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) initiative, with an illuminated regional map showing how electricity could one day flow more seamlessly across borders, connecting countries and enabling greater use of renewable energy resources throughout Southeast Asia.

The tunnel also ventures into technologies that remain subjects of public discussion, including carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), hydrogen production and nuclear energy.  Through visual storytelling, the exhibits explain how these technologies may contribute to reducing emissions while supporting growing energy needs.

Yet, the attraction is not solely about energy infrastructure.  One of the most popular stations allows visitors to become part of the exhibition itself.

Using an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered photo booth, participants can select futuristic-themed outfits, pose for a photograph and watch as their image is transformed and projected onto a large digital screen.

The personalised image, accompanied by the visitor’s name, becomes part of the tunnel’s rotating display and can also be downloaded as a keepsake.

Moments later, visitors often find themselves searching for their digital alter ego among the moving visuals, creating an experience that blends technology, entertainment and education.

As visitors emerge from the tunnel, the experience leaves a clear impression, the energy transition is no longer a distant concept discussed only in boardrooms and policy papers, it becomes something that can be seen, interacted with and imagined at a time.

Running from June 3 to 5, 2026, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, ETCon26 is a flagship conference by TNB that brings together global stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the national energy transition agenda.

Themed “Energy & AI: The Synergy for Energy Transition”, the conference is anchored on three content pillars, namely Energy for AI, AI for Energy, and Energy Transition (ET) for People, reflecting the growing interdependence between energy systems and digital technologies.

-- BERNAMA