KUCHING: The Sarawak government is exploring various new technologies that can generate more renewable energy (RE) sources to achieve its target of producing 10GW of power by 2030.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state at present had an installed capacity of 5,700MW of power through a generation mix from hydro, coal and gas sources.
“Within these 3 years, we want to upgrade to 10GW and my cabinet and I are going to the ground to explore various technologies that can generate RE in order to provide the required energy for all economic activities,” he said at that opening of Melexis Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s new building at the Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone.
He added that at the current stage, Sarawak is experimenting with floating solar energy generation technology at the Batang Ai hydroelectric dam.
He said this experiment covered just over 3% of the dam’s body of water to produce about 50MW of power and this could potentially be increased to 2,000MW should 60% of the waterbody be used.
“With that sort of approach, we are trying at only one dam. We have 4 more dams (to go),” he said, referring to the Bakun, Murum, Baleh and Bengoh damns currently operating in Sarawak.
— BERNAMA
