SABAH Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has received the go-ahead from the Energy Commission of Sabah to develop a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in Lahad Datu on Sabah’s east coast.
The facility, with a capacity of 100MW and the ability to store 400 megawatt-hours, will be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
SESB Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Hj Jaafar announced the project today, saying it would strengthen the state’s power grid by boosting electricity generation.
“The project will help improve Sabah’s reserve margin during peak demand and support the expansion of the state's Large-Scale Solar initiative,” he said in a statement in Kota Kinabalu.
Construction of the facility is slated to begin this month, with completion targeted for June 2025.
As of early this year, Sabah’s reserve power margin stands at approximately 12%, below the ideal range of 20% to 30%, resulting in constant power disruptions across the state.
SESB aims to raise this to 30% by the year’s end through initiatives such as solar energy expansion, biogas projects, and the Lahad Datu BESS installation. – September 11, 2024.
