KOTA KINABALU: Efforts are being made by the government to enhance power generation using solar energy in rural homes in Sabah and Sarawak, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said power production using solar technology involving large-scale installation of solar panels on the roofs of homes in rural areas had been implemented in both states for over a decade now.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Minister, said however, the implementation had faced challenges which had resulted in specific targets not being met.
Among the challenges, he said, was the solar panel battery maintenance and replacement work being given to a limited number of companies.
"Sabah and Sarawak are so vast so this is not practical and the efforts take a long time resulting in areas utilising solar energy ending up facing longer periods in darkness," he said, after closing the Asia Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit here on Sunday (July 30).
Hence, he said, a new system must be created to overcome the issues that have arisen including to replace the solar panel batteries using new technology that would extend its lifespan.
"This technology will be the game changer in the supply of electricity in rural areas," Ahmad Zahid said.
The maintenance system would also be replaced, he said, by allowing several more companies to do the work.
