A TEAM of academics from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) have built an energy storage system that can reduce the daily peak usage of electricity.
Led by Prof Dr Lim Yun Seng, from UTAR’s Lee Kong Chian Engineering and Science Faculty, they have built a utility-scale grid-integrated storage system that works in a real operating environment in one of its buildings at the Sungai Long campus in Selangor.
Prof Lim (centre) and his team, which includes Chua (left) and Wong (right), have built a system that can reduce the daily peak usage of electricity.
Said to be the first in Malaysia, the system has a rating or capacity of 400kW and 780kW.
“We’ve developed several new controllers to reduce the daily peak demand of the building.
“With the controllers, UTAR can save about RM18,500 in electricity bills annually due to the reduction in monthly peak demand charges, ” Prof Lim said in a statement.
“In addition, the release of about 16 tonnes of carbon dioxide can be avoided per year due to the relatively low maximum demand on power networks, ” he added.
Prof Lim, who is also UTAR Centre for Power Systems and Electricity chairman, said the system was a collaboration with Newcastle University and several related energy companies.
He said they also received funding from the government and the British Council.
“The controllers can bring benefits to the three areas of ener-gy trilemma, known as environ-mental sustainability, affordability of electricity and security of supply, ” he added.
Prof Lim was also among two recipients selected for the 2020 Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) Science and Technology Award for the project, winning RM30,000.
His team members were Dr Chua Kein Huat and Dr Wong Jianhui.
The award is given annually to two deserving Malaysian scientists or researchers to recognise their achievements, discoveries or contributions in science and technology.
Prof Lim and his team were also the recipients of the National Outstanding Innovator Award 2017, Top Research Scientist Malaysia 2018 and Gold Award in Pecipta 2019.
The project has attracted the attention of Sarawak Energy Bhd, with its research and development manager Dr Ng Sing Muk and his team visiting the campus on
Jan 7, with the intention of adopting this low cost and highly efficient technology.
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