Sabah looks to wind and solar energy to reduce carbon footprint

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s renewable energy potential will be fully utilised to lessen its dependence on fossil fuels.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the Federal Government sought to exploit solar and wind energy to reduce fuel subsidies for diesel-fired power generation by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd.

Currently, between RM450mil and RM600mil is spent annually by the Federal Treasury on subsidising diesel fuel.

“It is not only wasteful but also inefficient as it leaves a large carbon footprint, which defeats Malaysia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said after the solar power installations in Kudat yesterday.

Dr Ongkili said the Cabinet was looking to reduce the amount of diesel subsidies by half in the next three years.

For a start, he said his ministry and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority have approved the generation of 58 megaWatt (mW) of electricity through solar power.

Dr Ongkili said 50 mW would be generated under a large-scale solar method developed jointly by the Tadau Energy Sdn Bhd and Edra Global Energy Bhd, formerly known as 1MDB Energy Group Bhd.

The largest solar power generation plants in Sabah are located at Indarason and Bak Bak beach in Kudat.

He said 2mW would be channelled to the local Kudat grid and the rest sent a transmission line to be distributed across Sabah.

“This is entirely funded by the private sector, while creating job opportunities for locals,” said Dr Ongkili.

Apart from solar energy, Dr Ongkili said Kudat and Kota Marudu have been identified for wind energy development based on studies by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and other power agencies in China and Thailand.

Up to 300mW could be exploited from wind energy, he said.

He added that there were plans to set up a research centre for renewable energy in Kudat, which would see collaboration between local universities and Asean energy institutes.