Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) won the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) Award at the 2026 Global Water Awards held May 19 in Madrid, Spain [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The award recognised IWK's project titled "Solar-powered Sanitation: No Upfront Cost, Cuts Emissions," involving installation of solar energy systems at 16 sewage treatment plants across Malaysia using a private financing initiative without upfront public spending [1, 2, 3, 4, 6].
The solar systems installed have a combined capacity of 6.3 megawatt-peak (MWp) and generate approximately 7,700 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually [1, 2, 3, 6]. This energy supports treatment of nearly 148 million cubic meters of wastewater each year [1, 2, 3, 6]. The initiative cuts over 5 gigagrams of CO2 emissions annually while enabling RM41.8 million in electricity cost savings from the grid every year [1, 2, 3, 6].
IWK, which operates over 100 sewage treatment plants and serves more than 32 million people in Malaysia, said the project improves wastewater treatment operations, infrastructure sustainability, and financial resilience [1]. IWK Chief Executive Narendran Maniam said, "Sustainability is at the core of every aspect of the company's operations. This initiative reflects IWK's ongoing commitment to strengthening sustainability efforts, not only from an environmental perspective but also from a financial standpoint" [3].
Global Water Intelligence CEO Gordon said IWK established a model for utilities globally by achieving operational, environmental, and financial outcomes without upfront public capital [1]. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim congratulated IWK, stating the award reflected Malaysia's dedication to sustainable water and sanitation aligned with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He said, "May this success continue to inspire efforts to build a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous nation for future generations" [1, 2].
IWK previously won the Public Water Agency of the Year excellence award at the 2023 Global Water Awards [1]. The 2026 Global Water Awards are held alongside the Global Water Summit to recognise leadership and innovation in the water sector [1, 4, 5].
