Air Selangor, the largest water services provider in Malaysia, has completed Malaysia’s first digital twin water treatment plant (WTP) in a partnership with Schneider Electric — the global group in digital transformation of energy management and automation.
As Malaysia’s first fully automated WTP, Semenyih 2 WTP is now equipped with asset digital twin technology capable of autonomous operation across standard, startup, and shutdown processes.
The plant delivers an average output of 100 million litres per day (MLD), and is projected to achieve up to 20% improvement in productivity. This initiative has also earned international recognition, with the project being shortlisted for the Global Water Awards 2025 by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) under the category of ‘Water Project of the Year’.
The digital twin solutions [is] a gamechanger for the water industry… This aligns with our vision to become Asia’s leading water services provider by 2030.
Adam Saffian Ghazali, CEO, Air Selangor
“The digital twin solutions [is] a gamechanger for the water industry. By enabling real-time monitoring and optimisation of our WTP operations, we can deliver a more consistent and reliable water supply, reduce inefficiencies, and improve service quality for our 9.62 million consumers [in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya],” Air Selangor CEO Adam Saffian Ghazali said. “This aligns with our vision to become Asia’s leading water services provider by 2030.”
According to Schneider Electric, this technology can predict events up to several months in advance as the digital twin model accumulates more data, providing proactive forecasts that assist in efficient facility operations.
“Digital twin — a virtual representation of physical water infrastructure and processes — is revolutionising the water industry,” said Shanmugavel Subramaniam, global water segment leader, Schneider Electric.
“By integrating diverse data streams with online hydraulic modelling in their large water distribution network, Air Selangor is unlocking a deeper understanding of complex water distribution networks through real-time monitoring and remotely control water distribution flow on demand, enabling more informed decisions and efficient operation in water management.”
Malaysia could face severe water shortages within the next five years — driven by the combined pressures of climate change, increasing water demand, and ageing infrastructure, added the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
“Water security is an urgent issue, and continuing on our current trajectory is unsustainable. Malaysia’s water sector must recognise all assets as resources to be reused, shifting our mindset and practices to embrace a circular economy,” said Eugene Quah, country president for Malaysia, Schneider Electric
“By viewing water and its associated processes as interconnected systems, we can enhance sustainability, optimise resource utilisation, and improve efficiency. It is imperative for companies to drive innovation by investing in water treatment technologies and adopting best practices. We commend Air Selangor for its proactive efforts in leading the charge towards a more sustainable future for water in Malaysia.”
Images: Air Selangor
