KOTA KINABALU – Solar power is expected to supply 11% of the Sabah’s total electricity generation by next year, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said that, currently, Sabah’s solar energy capacity stands at 84 megawatts (mW).
This comes from a large-scale solar project in Kudat (50 mW capacity), and a solar photovoltaic project under the feed-in tariff scheme (34 mW capacity).
Four more large-scale solar projects are being implemented and are expected to be completed in 2024. They will have a capacity of 62 mW.
These projects include one each in Beaufort (6 mW), Kunak (5 mW), two in Sandakan (20 mW), three in Tawau (16 MW), and two in Labuan (15 mW).
Hajiji (Sulaman–GRS) said this during the question-and-answer session at the Sabah assembly sitting today, answering nominated assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee’s question.
According to data from the Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap drafted by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority last year, Sabah has the best potential for solar energy in Malaysia – 99,400 mW if taking into account all undeveloped land, which is 1,887 sq km, or 2.6% of the total land area in Sabah for ground-mounted solar.
If only 1% of the land is developed into a solar farm (19 sq km), Sabah can generate up to 1,000 mW of solar energy capacity.
But Hajiji said to ensure the stability of Sabah’s power grid, solar energy that can be connected to the grid is limited to only 22% (220 mW) at the moment, as solar energy is not consistent and dependent on sunlight.
“Hence, the target for additional solar energy capacity planned by the Sabah government for the future is only limited to 100 mW until 2027,” he said.
He said the Energy Commission of Sabah, set to take control of the electricity supply including renewable energy in the state by the end of this year, will evaluate the implementation of off-grid solar energy such as self-generation and consumption, and dedicated supply such as to industrial parks.
“The Sabah government is aware of the potential and benefits of solar energy in Sabah, and is responsible in ensuring the electricity supply in Sabah is guaranteed; ensuring optimum cost so as not to burden the people in the state,” he said. – The Vibes, May 24, 2023
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