My Visit To Pusat Tenaga Malaysia

13 thoughts on “My Visit To Pusat Tenaga Malaysia”

1. Anything about “kincir angin”?

2. From my understandings of alternate energy sources, solar energy is still not feasible for large scale commercial application, and it is too expensive even if compared to oil and gas fired thermal plants at todays prices!

   However small home applications is feasible and more research has to be unndertaken in these areas.

   That aside, there is a Malaysian company, a client of mine, that produces fuel cells for commercial use, and it is solely exported to europe. They have presold for the next ten years! None is sold in Malaysia, as we are still backward in such alternate energy uses.

3. While the whole world is talking about behinds, 5 days after 9 /11th, temporary lodger, our dear YB is focusing on the mundane and boring like building houses or not on slightly uneven land, and now some energy source for sustainable growth.

   Was it someone that mention only BN got the experience to govern and DAP & co do not have such experience?

4. Yes,I agree that the potential of this environmentally friendly source of energy should be tapped and aggressively too. Just as palm diesel and ethanol are being developed as alternative sources of energy in this high-priced petroleum environment.

   With the recognition that gone are the days of low-priced fossiled fuel,it is a step in the right direction.The challenge is to have a platform for someone to educate the general public so as to provide a spring board for its initiation and ultimate usage on a national scale.

5. Dear YB

   Nice article, supernice photos, and marvellous dreams, but I will have to agree with temenggong above.

   Yes, I myself have been dreaming of powering our country with solar long before you guys were born. But the reality today is still the following figures.

   Oh the hottest day with the sun above, every square metre on earth recieves roughly about 1 kW of energy PER square metre. Thats a lot from the sun.
   UNFORTUNATELY, the efficiency of the solar panels is ONLY about 19 percent, ie. Every square metre of solar panels under the hottest sun can give you an electrical energy of 190 Watts only. You can check for yourself what kind of electrical appliance you can use with it.
   And this energy is Direct current compared with Alternating current AC we get from TNB. So using DC from solar cell will require more expensive inverters to convert it to AC before your normal appliance can be used.
   I am sure YB, the company you visited also did NOT tell you if we have to use power from solar cell, the tariff for break even without profit will have to be around RM3.00/kWh compared to the approved tariff now of only averaging 30 cts/kWh or per unit of electricity found in your TNB bills.

   So all the so-called champions of Environment crying about using solar energy are simply PRETENDERS or dont know what they are talking about, or just trying to force the govt to subsidise such and expensive source of energy bizness. And we have plenty of these sickening pretenders over here in the state of Sabah.

   I am prepared to debate at length on this matter on a different forum site if someone invites me to that site.

   But just to inform YB, when the sun goes down in evening, either you have to go back to diesel generators, or buy lots more solar panels and a large and heavy storage batteries and inverters for you to use this solar energy 24 hours.

   As expected, the company did not tell YB Teresa how much they are selling one common size panel and show you the economics???

   Why oversea clients are buying them?
   Two possible reasons..

   1. They can afford it due to their high currency value compared to RM
   2. They have no choice if living at isolated area far from the country’s state utility company.

   Like the space lab, no choice for NASA but to use the most expensive solar cell known to man. You dont expect to run a diesel or gas powered generator in space do you?

   Just to give YB here a rough idea of how much area you need during day time, if your air conditioner is the standard type rated 2kW, then the area of your solar cell will be at least 10 square meters, and works only during the day without rain or clouds.

   hope you get the basic picture.

6. So much of TENAGA talk of the sun energy, I remember Tenaga went into Microwave technology and lost million cause the people are incapable of receiving technology transfer from Australia. Another showcase of no return and wastage of taxpayers money.

7. Teresa, solar energy is the way to go.
   Yet, the BN government wanted to go nuclear.
   With the type of no-brainers around, sooner rather than later, the whole country will be contaminated.
   So, instead of spending huge sums on constructing nuclear plants, they should start the ball rolling for solar energy.
   I understand that there is a policy to allow those who wanted solar energy to bid for the installation at a reasonable price. They should ocncentrate in this direction instead of diverting to nuclear energy.
   Perhaps you can ensure that there is no deviation?

8. PV is still the way to go, though not immediately for most households:
   – Was told TNB generates 300W for every 100W we use, therefore we’re paying 3 times of what we use.
   – There is no Feed In Tariff in Malaysia, which means current incentives actually benefits TNB rather than the people, but it’s one step forward regardless. Grid Connected Solar power saves TNB 2/3 costs, yet we don’t get the rebate, paying the same rate!
   – Most of power consumption is Air Cond, which PV doesn’t make sense. Anyone looked at Thermal Solar Power? It’s chemical based, and not Semi Conductor based (PV). Much better ROI! Saw a manufacturer which said around 5 years or less on a hybrid system.
   – Energy efficiency isn’t just about Solar, but that most buildings are not insulated properly, causing additional consumption! Lack of ventilation, also causes additional use of Air Cond! Building Design and materials used affects the need for Air Cond power!
   – Awareness is great, but it’s all down to ROI, information on costing / ROI, suppliers, … etc. Most (including M&E consultants) are not aware of the latest developments! I found out more than asking my consultant! Sad.
   – Too many repeated meetings which doesn’t seem to get anywhere. The large corporates are spending $$$ on publicity, and not something effective, as they do not have time to investigate! Sad cycle of wasted resources.

   That’s my quick thoughts on the topic. Am still learning more about the facilities and hope I didn’t get the facts wrong, as different professionals are telling me different things. 🙁

   Would definitely like to explore and implement Solar Power facilities, but lack the resources to push. If anyone would like to discuss, and possible make things happen, I’d love to get involved. Am more into action than mere talk. 🙂

   BK

9. Dear readers,

   This is a response from MBIPV team. We are very pleased that YB Teresa Kok and her team have recently made an effort to visit PTM and understand more about the solar photovoltaic (PV). We have read your comments and we would like to take this opportunity to address some of the key issues.

   i) In response to Temenggong’s remark:
   Issue: Solar PV Energy not for large scale application:
   Comment: Large scale solar PV applications are feasible and today, most of them are found in Europe. Examples of such applications are:
   Spain – 20 MW PV plants in Jumilla and Beniexama
   Germany – 12 MW plant in Arnstein, and a 10 MW photovoltaic system in Pocking, with a 40 MW power station planned for Muldentalkreis
   Portual – 11 MW plant in Serpa and a 62 MW power station is planned for Moura
   USA – 14 MW plant is located at Nellis Air Force Base. Pacific Gas and Electric Company will build two utility-scale, photovoltaic (PV) solar power contracts for a total of 800 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (250 MW solar ranch and 550 MW Topaz Solar Farm project, both located in San Luis Obispo County, California. http://investors.sunpowercorp.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=328221
   For latest news of solar PV development, visit also http://www.solarbuzz.com/ , http://www.pv-tech.org/

   ii) In response to Sabahfan’s remark:
   Issue: Efficiency of Solar Cells
   “On the hottest day with the sun above, every square metre on earth receives roughly about 1 kW of energy PER square metre”
   Comment: solar irradiance (energy emitted by the sun on 1 square meter per year) is dependent upon geographical location. In Kota Kinabalu, the average solar irradiance 1900 kWh/m2/year, Kuala Lumpur 1571 kWh/m2/year and Penang 1,785 kWh/m2/year.

   Issue: Solar Cell has low conversion efficiency
    Correction: It is true that solar cell efficiency is still between the range of 6 – 20% (depending upon the type of solar cell technology used). If sun energy is not harvested in anyway, then 100% of the sun’s energy is gone to waste. Energy from the sun is free, even though the conversion efficiency is low. Electricity generated from the sun is clean and does not impose a cost to environment. And because electricity generated from the sun is consumed in situ, there is very little loss of electricity due to transmission. Just to illustrate, if Malaysia has solar PV covering 0.6% (786 km2) land of Peninsular Malaysia, the solar PV system can generate enough electricity supplied by TNB in 2007 (i.e. 86.5 TWh).

   Issue: No electricity at night from PV system, DC power from PV System
   Comment: There are two types of solar PV applications. (i) Stand-alone (ii) Grid-connected. The stand-alone PV system is most suitable for areas which do not readily have grid-access (e.g. offshore oil rig, rural, parking meters) and such applications will require battery system to store the electricity from the solar PV system. The grid-connected PV system will require grid to be readily accessible. The electricity produced by the solar PV system will be exported to the grid. It treats the grid utility as a large ‘battery’ in which during the day, PV electricity is exported to the grid. At night, the solar PV system will stop generating electricity and electricity for the building’s requirement will be drawn from the grid. So for a typical building which has solar PV system installed, the building will have two meters. One to keep track of the PV electricity exported to the grid, the other meter will record the amount of electricity imported from the grid. At the end of the month, the utility will produce an electricity bill based on net-metering. For most building, solar PV system only aims to supplement the electricity required and not to met 100% the total demand by the household or office use.

   Issue: Why overseas clients are buying them?
   The main market for solar PV is in Germany. In 2007, Germany alone accounts for nearly 48 % of the global PV installed capacity. This translated to 3,635 MW installed PV capacity. The other major PV markets are Japan (1,919 MW, 26%), USA (830 MW, 11%) and Spain (634 MW, 8%). These markets are flourishing because their Government has put in place a PV policy which encourages the growth of PV markets in their country. The most effective of these policies is the feed-in tariff which was adopted by Germany and later by other European countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and also South Korea. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications is considering implementing feed-in tariff and is currently weighing out the pros and cons of committing to the mechanism. At the moment, the feed-in tariff considered for solar PV electricity is around RM2.09 for 21 years with 5% degression rate.

   Issue: …the tariff for break even without profit will have to be around RM3.00/kWh compared to the approved tariff now of only averaging 30 cts/kWh or per unit of electricity found in your TNB bills
   It will be helpful if you are able to clarify the source of your claim for RM3.00/kWh. However, it is true, our electricity tariff, despite the recent hike, is still highly subsidized. The Government will not be able to afford the same level of subsidy paid for natural gas for power generation every year. It is the intention of the Government that the price of natural gas for power generation be increased in stages so the amount of subsidy to electricity reduces. Hence, if the consumer is only looking at economic perspective of electricity, then electricity from the conventional generation would be cheaper than solar PV electricity. Until grid-parity is achieved (i.e. cost of electricity generated by solar PV is the same as fossil-based generation), the only way to promote the use of solar PV (or any other form of renewable energy) is by the financial incentive from the Government.

   iii) In response to new era’s remark:
   Issue: solar PV another possible wasted investment
   The German Solar Association gave its advice that PV is a long term strategy. In Germany and Japan, solar PV took almost 15 years for their markets to mature. Solar PV initiative in Malaysia will truly go to waste if there is no long term plans for PV market and industry to grow. The Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic (MBIPV) Project is an initiative by the Government of Malaysia and the Project spans for 5 years ending in 2010. Hence, unless there is a continuation program for solar PV in the country, the solar PV may suffer similar fate as other technologies in the country. This will indeed be such a waste since Malaysia has truly abundant and consistent sunlight compared to many countries who are leading in PV markets. At this moment, the Government of Malaysia is also working out a continuation program for solar PV as the Government is fully aware of the costs of stop-and-go deployment which had happened in other countries.

   Issue: …trying to force the govt to subsidise such and expensive source of energy bizness.
   Worldwide, solar PV has experienced 40% growth over the past 6 years. In Germany alone, in 2007, solar PV created 25,000 jobs and total FDIs of over RM 270 billion. China is world leading in PV supplies and in 2007, Asia supplied 66% of the world’s PV modules. Solar PV technology is simple and does not require rocket science to design, install and maintain the system. Hence, solar PV is a strong emerging industry today and most solar PV stocks are the high performing stocks on the exchange. Hence, when the Government is committing to resolve the country’s energy issue by encouraging the use of solar PV, it does so by aiming to creating a sustainable PV market and industry at the same time.

   iv) In response to damocles’ remark
   Issue: Nuclear option for Malaysia
   Yes, Malaysia is also seriously considering the use of nuclear power in the near future. It is now up to the Rakyat to decide which form of future electricity generation mix is preferred. The time to voice is now before the plan is concretized.

   v) In response to BK Lau’s remark:
   Issue: PV not suitable for household use
   Solar PV has been widely used in residential application (especially in Germany and Japan). In Malaysia, under the MBIPV Project, there are 50 successful recipients for the SURIA 1000 financial incentive programme. Some examples of the installations can be found in the BIPV’s website, http://www.mbipv.net.my/BIPV%20Installed.htm.

   In conclusion, in the energy sector, Malaysia’s priority is to address energy security and climate change. While Malaysia has enjoyed for many decades being a net oil and gas exporter, the country is running out of fossil fuel very quickly. Just as it has taken decades for oil and gas industry to develop, renewable energies (hydro, biomass, solar PV, wind, geothermal, solar thermal) will take time for each country to commit and explore the best mix.

   MBIPV Project welcomes anyone who wishes to discuss more on solar PV to write to [email protected] or call 03-8921 0866. You may like to visit our website http://www.mbipv.net.my for more information. Alternatively, if you wish to discuss the subject matter in person, please feel free to arrange for an appointment with any of the MBIPV team.

10. Hi,
    There is a miscomception that Malaysia is a favourable location for solar photovoltaic cell installation.
    Too much clouds and hazy sky in too many days in a year.
    Best place are those colder and drier countries such as Mongolia and North western parts of China.

11. Dear readers..
    (seems I am the only one still being subjected to moderation in my posting, but dont matter, at least YBs team is reading my post)

    Weinee’s one kilometre posting hardly convinced me of all the arguments of Solar or PV cells even though technically it works.

    Here are the points in Weinees argument I find wasting everyones time….

    *****In Kota Kinabalu, the average solar irradiance 1900 kWh/m2/year, Kuala Lumpur 1571 kWh/m2/year and Penang 1,785 kWh/m2/year.*****

    So what if my rough figure of 1 kw/m2 (that per year rating not found in all the posting in the net from the producer of solar cells from US. I got my figures from the US websites.. i did not create them.
    And rightly as Cheah has pointed above, your totalling of energy per year is just guessing. How did u deduct the rainy days and cloudy days? You got statistics for them? so the best figure to quote as given by the US producers is 1.0 kW/m2 assuming full sun.
    and kW is rate of energy. kWh is the total energy in one hour. PLEASE GO BACK TO SCIENCE CLASS before debating with me. Are you a science or engineering professor? gee i like to meet this person face to face.

    Just to tell Weinee here, 2 days ago the IDS = a Sabah state think tank body invited some alternative energy consultants who spoke and PV cells and to install the household system that runs for 24 hours including storage battery will require at least US$20,000.00.
    Now work out how many years of bills you can buy from TNBs present tariff on this?
    If Weinee says this figure is wrong, i have only one challenge for you.

    Buy the system and use it yourself, then invite me to see them and your bills for the complete installation. Then I might consider following in your footsteps.

    I have made so many challenges to the socalled champions of solar cell in Kota Kinabalu for the last one year, and someone is yet to offer me their Solar Panels at the cheap price they keep quoting in the PRESS. I said they were all LIARS… only trying to get the Malaysian taxpayers to subsidise their expensive system.

    And Weinee.. Your quoting of european countries, Japan, german, etc hardly applies to Malaysia. Their currency values is at least 3 times the ringgit. Thats why manufacture them here using our cheap labour, then they can afford to buy them with their higher value Euros…
    ARE YOU trying to say this is not true?
    As for Japan, they have no other choices, no coal, no gas, no oil, no hydros of their own, where got big rivers in the islands of Japan. so even if solar cost RM3.00 per unit, they will buy them.
    I have met many Japanese consultants who came to Sabah and they all say the same to me.

    As for my rate of RM3.00 average per kwh, just go to websites that quotes the rate in US dollars, and that would come close to this rate. OR let this Malaysian manufacturer give us a quote. Lets see, since YB Teresas blog did not quote how much the company Pusat Tenaga will sell them to local malaysian consumers.
    I challenge you all to call this Pusat and post their prices here including all the equipments, inverters, batterys, control. The Panels by itself may sound cheap but I want quotes of the whole system. I am sure they will be shy to quote their price.

    Also mr Weinee… you cannot consider connecting to the existing grid as a storage battery because there is no such thing as storing electricity. What happens when you connect you solar cell to the grid is if there is some excess from that produce by the PV cell, someone else is consuming the energy along the line at that instant. When the sun goes down, the house with a solar cell (which now stop producing power) simply switch back to consuming from the national grid which is producing from either diesel, coal, hydro or other non solar sources.
    And to connect your solar cell to the grid, you gonna need expensive control and safety equipments that needs approval from TNB.

    Finally a message especially to YB Teresa here.

    Solar PV cell clean? Rubbish. The panel looks clean under the sun, but how much energy was burnt to produce the wafers that is used to produce the solar panels?
    Let me Weinee answer this question without beating around the bush.

    Also YB, the only proven clean, renewable and cheap alternative energy is HYDRO…. i repeat HYDRO….

    But it takes long time to develope, and the govt dont want to invest taxpayers money on this, they rather invest on the National Service scheme which makes quick money to their contractors…

    and just to inform, the amount spent on NS in the last 5 year would have been enough to build the UPPER PADAS hydro scheme in Sabah which would have provide enough power for the state in the next 10 years. Sadly, the UMNO govt rather spent our money sending Malazunouts to play yo-yo in space, give to contractors to build NS camps, one of them is now just about to collapse on top of a hill slope..

    That Mr weinee is what you should be more concerned about rather than just defending your friends Solar PV bisness….
    thank you, see you soon.

12. Oh, I overlooked. Mr Weinee is in the PV bisness, now wonder he is defending solar like hell.

    MR weeineee please dont waste my time emailing you or debating… since you are working for a solar pv producer, simply post your figures here.. with approval from your bosses or give us your catalogues complete with prices and rates…

    I am interested to see figures..the actual ones that is…

    1. The ex factory price of your standard solar panels, its rating…. One panel, size: and kW DC

    2. An estimate transportation cost to Kota Kinabalu say.

    3. an estimate instalation cost…to commissioning..

    4. cost of supporting equipments…

    a) storage batteries if necessary
    b) Standard DC to AC converters so all existing appliance in my house can operate on it directly..

    c) connection cost to TNB grid including the protection system to TNBs approval…
    ( do you know why they need the protection system? if not, dont bother to answer or talk anymore)

    d) the cost of metering to see whether I pay some to TNB or TNB pays me for the surplus power from solar cells. including approval cost from the Suruhanjaya Tenaga…

    Then bottom line the cost, lets see if this is economically viable in Malaysia…

    he he he he he he

13. Utility SCE opens biggest solar rooftop in California
    http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4B10OD20081202?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

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