Green roadmap for Cyberjaya

Monday January 25, 2010

CYBER CORRIDOR By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

charlesf@thestar.com.my
AT THE Copenhagen Climate Change conference in December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that Malaysia was committed to reducing its carbon emissions by up to 40% by 2020.
According to 2006 United Nations data, Malaysians emit 7.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita, which is almost equivalent to an average person in the industrialised world, although we are a developing country.
Malaysia, underlined by its Green Technology Policy 2009, aims to harness green technology development in the country, which would be the catalyst to accelerate the national economy and promote sustainable developmemt.
In line with this policy, Cyberview Sdn Bhd (CSB), the landowner of Cyberjaya, has taken the leap forward to identify the cause of the lacklustre performance in its development and spearhead the development by identifying solutions to bring Cyberjaya back in line with the government’s aspirations and transform it into a world-class cybercity.

Central cooling system: Pendinginan Megajana Sdn Bhd, shown here with one of the thermal energy storage tanks.

As pointed out by former CSB managing director Datuk Redza Rafiq, before planning the city, they had spoken to the stakeholders, namely, the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDec), the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSp), another development company, Setia Haruman, its people and the companies to find out what they hoped to see and then identified the initiatives that would benefit the community.
Cyberjaya’s success story had not only brought in foreign interest but also continued to attract the attention of other cities in and around the region.
In a presentation entitled “Using creativity, culture and diversity in the revival of Cyberjaya” at the recent Asia Pacific Cities Summit (APCS) 2009 held in Incheon, South Korea, Redza shared with about 1,000 city administrators, business leaders and town planners from around the region, the five-year recovery plan to pull Cyberjaya out of the doldrums it was in after its inception in the late 1990s.
However, he contended that more needed to be done and Cyberview would be tabling recommendations to the government to allow for additional tools to be implemented.
Cyberjaya’s participation in the summit also enabled them to understand the common global predicament faced by many city administrators and town planners around the world.
Most case studies presented during the summit highlighted human capital as the main factor in the development of a city, and in managing Cyberjaya, Cyberview has taken this factor into consideration and implemented several initiatives to address it.
While in Southe Korea, the Cyberview delegation also took the opportunity to visit Jeollanm-do Province, a four-hour drive from Seoul. The purpose of the visit was to get a better understanding of initiatives made by the local authority.
Under the recently announced Budget 2010, Cyberjaya is set to have its best year yet as several initiatives will culminate in the country’s premier cybercity being a showcase township of Green Technology.
“It is a call for the transformation of Malaysia into a high-income economy through green technology that has been identified as the next global engine of growth,” Redza added.
To this end, CSB has come up with an entire roadmap of green initiatives that will result in both Cyberjaya and its neighbour Putrajaya being developed as pioneer townships in Green Technology, as a showcase for the development of other townships.
Redza revealed that CSB, through its subsidiary Pendinginan Megajana Sdn Bhd, had embarked on a district-cooling system as an initiative to lower the cost of doing business in Cyberjaya, to remain competitive and to preserve the environment.
Some RM58mil will be invested for the expansion of the system in the next two years, and the initiative would involve buildings currently still under construction in Cyberjaya.
District cooling is said to reduce electricity usage by more than 65% compared with traditional air-conditioning systems and it is learnt that more than 50% of the existing buildings in Cyberjaya are already using the system.
Cyberview and the Cyberjaya stakeholders have allowed 12 years to pass by and with four initiatives launched by CSB under the Economic Stimulus Package, it is just the right sneak peek into what’s in the pipeline for this intelligent city in the year 2010.

Bandar bebas karbon’ negara

Utusan Malaysia: 20/01/2010

Oleh MOHD. RIDZWAN IMAN
ridzwan.iman@utusan.com.my

Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak bersalaman dengan Naib Presiden dan Perdana Menteri Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) serta Pemerintah Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al-Maktoum pada pertemuan mereka di Abu Dhabi, semalam. - bernama

ABU DHABI 19 Jan. – Malaysia dan Emiriyah Arab Bersatu (UAE) akan berkongsi kepakaran dalam pembangunan teknologi hijau dengan merancang membina sebuah ‘bandar bebas karbon’ di Malaysia tidak lama lagi, kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Perdana Menteri berkata, kerjasama itu akan membabitkan pelaburan awal bernilai RM340 juta bagi membangunkan sebuah bandar hijau seperti bandar Masdar di sini yang dikenali sebagai ‘bandar bebas karbon.’
Perjanjian kerjasama tersebut membabitkan 1Malaysia Development Berhad (IMDB) dengan Masdar, anak syarikat Mubadala Development Company yang juga merupakan syarikat penyelidikan dan pembangunan tenaga masa depan.
“Saya merasakan mereka menunjukkan hasrat yang begitu tinggi apabila menandatangani perjanjian kerjasama untuk melaksanakan kaedah dan konsep bandar Masdar tetapi dalam skala lebih sederhana di Malaysia,” katanya.
Najib berkata demikian kepada wartawan Malaysia di sini hari ini pada hari terakhir lawatan rasmi selama empat hari ke UAE, termasuk menyampaikan ucaptama di Sidang Kemuncak Tenaga Masa Depan Sedunia, semalam.
Perdana Menteri berkata, kerjasama Masdar dengan IMDB akan menggunakan teknologi hijau terkini dan juga mengambil manfaat daripada pelaburan dan kepakaran syarikat UAE itu dalam teknologi hijau.
“Kita tidak perlu melabur dalam bidang ini tetapi gunakan kepakaran mereka untuk sama-sama membangunkan bandar hijau seperti Masdar di Malaysia,” katanya.
Beliau bagaimanapun berkata, mereka belum mengenalpasti lokasi bandar yang akan dimajukan kerana ia bergantung kepada perbincangan antara kedua-dua syarikat.
“Ia diharap dapat diputuskan sebelum kunjungan Putera Mahkota Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan ke Malaysia nanti supaya baginda dapat menyaksikannya,” katanya.
Perjanjian kerjasama antara IMDB dan Masdar itu telah ditandatangani dua hari lepas untuk terlibat dalam projek-projek teknologi hijau dan mengurangkan pencemaran.
Pada majlis itu, IMDB diwakili oleh Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Shahrol Halmi dan Masdar diwakili oleh Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.
Dalam pada itu, Shahrol berkata, teknologi hijau merupakan sektor yang semakin penting dalam pembangunan ekonomi di masa depan dan kerjasama dengan Masdar akan mendedahkan Malaysia dan IMDB kepada pembangunan teknologi mampan bertaraf dunia.
“Adalah hasrat kami untuk mengkaji dan menilai peluang-peluang perniagaan berkaitan teknologi hijau termasuk pembangunan bandar raya bebas karbon yang mesra alam di Malaysia,” katanya dalam kenyataan akhbar.
Dr. Sultan pula berkata, Masdar komited dalam membina pakatan strategik dan membina rangkaian di seluruh dunia untuk mempopularkan teknologi hijau dan kuasa yang mesra alam untuk kehidupan masyarakat lebih mampan.

Dunia mesti urus sumber tenaga cara berkesan

Berita Harian: 18 Jan 2010

Daripada Dzulkfley Zanudin di Abu Dhabi

NAJIB dan Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan (dua dari kanan) bergambar bersama Pegawai Eksekutif 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Shahrol Halmi (kanan) serta Ketua Eksekutif Masdar, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber selepas majlis menandatangani perjanjian meneroka projek dan pelaburan teknologi hijau.

Pelaksanaan teknologi hijau boleh atasi krisis iklim: PM

DATUK Seri Najib Razak yakin pelaksanaan teknologi hijau dan kemapanan sumber tenaga bukan saja mampu memulihara dan melindungi khazanah negara, malah boleh dimanfaatkan sebagai pencetus ekonomi baru.

Lantaran itu, Perdana Menteri mahu masyarakat dunia bertindak lebih tegas dalam menangani isu pemanasan global dan sumber tenaga bagi memastikan kehidupan lebih selesa, terutama generasi akan datang.

Katanya, satu daripada cabaran besar yang memerlukan kerjasama dan kebijaksanaan swasta dan awam ialah menangani isu ketidak-mapanan penggunaan sumber tenaga dunia.

Beliau berkata, masyarakat dunia gagal memanfaatkan Sidang Copenhagen untuk menyelesaikan isu pemanasan global yang memerlukan tindakan lebih sesuai dan berkesan bagi menangani kesan perubahan iklim.

"Bumi tidak lagi mampu menanggung beban penggunaan kurang mapan dan pembaziran dilakukan manusia," katanya ketika menyampaikan ucaptama sesi pembukaan pleno Sidang Puncak Tenaga Masa Depan Dunia 2010 di Pusat Pameran Kebangsaan Abu Dhabi, di sini, semalam.

Ucapan beliau yang pertama kali hadir sebagai Perdana Menteri pada sidang itu menarik perhatian pemimpin dunia, termasuk Putera Mahkota Abu Dhabi, Jeneral Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Al Nahyan selaku tuan rumah.

Najib antara pemimpin dunia yang berucap pada sesi pleno sidang puncak yang masuk tahun ketiga itu. Sidang di Pusat Pameran Kebangsaan Abu Dhabi itu disertai pemimpin dan pakar tenaga dari 40 negara.

Pemimpin lain yang berucap pada sesi itu termasuk Presiden Greece, Karolos Papoulias; Presiden Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed dan Putera Mahkota Denmark, Putera Frederik André Henrik Christian

Najib berkata, Malaysia menubuhkan Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air, awal tahun lalu untuk memastikan sektor tenaga, pengangkutan, bangunan dan air lebih bersih.
Perdana Menteri berkata, kerajaan menggalakkan penggunaan biofuel, pengurusan air secara berkesan dan pembinaan bangunan menjimatkan tenaga, termasuk pengenalan Indeks Bangunan Hijau.

"Mengikut Laporan Tenaga Dunia 2009, tanpa perubahan dasar kerajaan mengikut keadaan sekarang akan meningkatkan pergantungan kepada bahan api fosil yang boleh menyebabkan perubahan cuaca dan menjejaskan sumber tenaga.

"Dunia, terutama negara membangun perlu bertindak segera untuk menguruskan industri tenaga dengan lebih berkesan ketika berdepan harga tenaga dan pelepasan sisa yang semakin meningkat," katanya.

Beliau menyarankan keberkesanan tenaga dijadikan budaya masyarakat dunia dengan memberi galakan kepada usaha penjimatan tenaga, termasuk mencontohi langkah Suruhanjaya Eropah menjimatkan 40 terawatt jam tenaga dan menghalang pelepasan 25 juta tan karbon dioksida dengan mengharamkan mentol lampu kurang sesuai.

Selain itu, katanya, tenaga boleh dibaharui perlu digalakkan yang mana di Malaysia bahan api fosil menguasai penggunaan campuran tenaga sedia ada dan lantaran itu, kerajaan mahu meningkatkan penggunaan sehingga 2,000 megawatt (MW) bahan tenaga boleh dibaharui menjelang 2020 berbanding 50 MW sekarang.

Malaysia komited jadi 'negara hijau'

 Utusan Malaysia:

ABU DHABI, 18 Jan. - Malaysia komited melaksanakan teknologi hijau dalam pembangunan dan meningkatkan penggunaan tenaga boleh diperbaharui dalam usaha menjadikan negara ini sebagai 'negara hijau,' kata Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Perdana Menteri berkata, empat sektor yang akan mendapat tumpuan penggunaan teknologi hijau dalam pembangunannya ialah tenaga, pengangkutan, bangunan dan pengurusan air.
"Malaysia juga telah menubuhkan Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air awal tahun lepas yang mempunyai tugasan menukarkan Malaysia kepada sebuah 'negara hijau,'" katanya ketika menyampaikan ucaptama pada sidang pleno di hari pertama Sidang Kemuncak Tenaga Masa Depan Sedunia di Pusat Pameran Kebangsaan Abu Dhabi di sini hari ini.
Katanya, untuk mengurangkan masalah pencemaran udara di Malaysia misalnya, usaha sedang dijalankan bagi meningkatkan laluan tren elektrik di sektor pengangkutan awam selain memperkenalkan projek percubaan menggunakan biofuel untuk kenderaan.
"Kami telah mempromosikan penggunaan tenaga cekap sejak beberapa lama dahulu dan pengenalan indeks Bangunan Hijau diharap mampu meningkatkan jumlah bangunan-bangunan mesra alam tidak lama lagi," katanya.
Beliau berkata, dalam bidang pengurusan air juga usaha meningkatkan penggunaan teknologi hijau sedang giat dilaksanakan kerana Malaysia masih kurang memanfaatkan kelebihan itu walaupun mempunyai hujan lebat sepanjang tahun.
Katanya, bagi membolehkan Malaysia melaksanakan inisiatif-inisiatif mesra alam, kerajaan telah memperkenalkan beberapa polisi berkaitan seperti Polisi Bioteknologi Kebangsaan dan Polisi Biofuel Kebangsaan sejak 2005.
Najib berkata, selain itu beberapa polisi dan undang-undang baru akan diperkenalkan bertujuan mengurangkan masalah pencemaran dan pada masa yang sama memelihara sumber-sumber kekayaan semula jadi negara.
"Polisi-polisi ini diperkenalkan bertujuan memanfaatkan kelebihan sumber alam di Malaysia dan pada masa yang sama memastikan sekurang-kurangnya 50 peratus daripada tanah di negara ini diliputi hutan," katanya.
Katanya, dalam usaha mengurangkan penggunaan bahan bakar berasaskan fosil dan menggunakan lebih banyak tenaga boleh diperbaharui, Malaysia meletakkan sasaran untuk meningkatkan penggunaan tenaga itu daripada 50 megaWatt (mW) pada masa kini kepada 2,000 mW menjelang 2020.
"Inisiatif khusus perlu diperkenalkan untuk menggalakkan penggunaan tenaga baru ini dan Malaysia telah memperkenalkannya seperti Program Tenaga Boleh Diperbaharui Kecil (SREP) yang menawarkan harga tinggi bagi pembelian daripada pembekal tenaga elektrik," tambahnya.
Katanya, alam semula jadi memberikan sumber tenaga yang lebih daripada mencukupi dan Malaysia sedang berusaha meningkatkan penggunaan sumber tenaga solar kerana mempunyai pancaran cahaya matahari yang banyak.
Menyentuh mengenai masalah perubahan iklim dunia, Najib membidas masyarakat antarabangsa yang masih gagal melaksanakan tindakan perlu dalam membendung ancaman itu daripada berterusan.
"Masyarakat antarabangsa perlu dan boleh melakukan sesuatu bagi memastikan dunia yang kita tinggal adalah lebih baik," katanya.
Beliau berkata, semua negara perlu berubah dan tanpa sebarang perubahan ketara dalam polisi kerajaan, masalah pergantungan kepada sumber bahan bakar berasaskan fosil akan terus meningkat dan seterusnya mengancam iklim dunia.
Katanya, dengan peningkatan jumlah penduduk dunia dan permintaan terhadap kualiti hidup yang lebih baik, ia akan mendorong peningkatan permintaan untuk bahan bakar dan tenaga berasaskan fosil.
"Jika polisi dan peraturan sedia ada tidak diubah, adalah dijangka penggunaan tenaga dunia akan meningkat sebanyak 44 peratus menjelang 2030 berbanding 2006," tambah beliau.
Selain Najib, antara kenamaan yang menyampaikan ucapan pada sidang yang sama hari ini ialah Presiden Greece, Kavolos Papoulias, Presiden Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed dan Perdana Menteri Turki, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sidang kemuncak selama empat hari yang bermula hari ini menjadi medan pertemuan pakar-pakar dari 118 negara membincangkan mengenai penyelidikan dan pembangunan teknologi tenaga masa depan. -- UTUSAN

Menjana, memulih tenaga untuk kegunaan masa depan dunia

Berita Harian: 18 Jan 2010

Oleh Dzulkifley Zanudin di Abu Dhabi

SIDANG Kemuncak Tenaga Masa Depan Dunia 2010 di Abu Dhabi, Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE), mulai hari ini hingga Khamis ini membuka tirai perbincangan pemimpin dunia bagi menangani krisis tenaga sejagat berikutan sumber semakin berkurangan kesan pemanasan global.

Antara agenda penting bakal dibincangkan ialah peningkatan usaha mencari sumber baru tenaga, termasuk memanfaatkan tenaga suria, angin dan ombak daripada disia-siakan begitu saja. Silap penggunaan sumber tenaga, terutama membabitkan pelepasan gas rumah hijau dan karbon turut mewujudkan malapetaka di kalangan warga dunia.

Sidang itu turut dijadual melancarkan inisiatif pemimpin muda tenaga masa depan, sebagai inisiatif berterusan mewujudkan penggerak dan pembuat dasar bertanggungjawab dalam isu sumber tenaga sejagat. Sidang kali ini turut menarik penyertaan sulung China sebagai gergasi ekonomi dunia, sekali gus mampu memberi kesan dalam dasar tenaga dan alam sekitar secara meluas kepada negara peserta lain.

Perkembangan mengerikan akan kesan fenomena pemanasan global ke atas cuaca dan fizikal bumi, sekali gus menjejaskan masa depan kelangsungan kehidupan atau survival manusia, menunjukkan pemimpin setiap negara perlu berusaha keras ke arah penjagaan alam sekitar dan dasar tenaga yang sesuai.

Sejak revolusi tenaga elektrik dan penggunaan barangan elektrik yang menyerikan dan menerangi kehidupan manusia selama ini, semakin lama, kita semakin hari dikejutkan dengan bayangan dunia lebih suram dan malap seandainya tenaga hidro atau air berkurangan atau habis berikutan kesan pemanasan global.

Kehadiran produk elektrik yang melepaskan karbon berlebihan serta menipiskan ozon angkasa turut mempengaruhi kadar cahaya matahari berlebihan, memungkinkan fenomena pemanasan global. Ini sekali gus juga mempengaruhi perubahan ombak dan glasier di kutub semakin mencair, sehingga beberapa negara kepulauan seperti Tuvalu kehilangan pulau batu karang akibat kesan pemanasan global.
Bercakap mengenai tenaga, penggunaan bahan api fosil seperti minyak dan gas kini turut menjadi agenda dalam isu tenaga dan iklim. Mengikut kajian, sumber minyak dan gas di perut bumi sama ada daratan atau lautan semakin berkurangan berikutan peningkatan penggunaan sejajar perkembangan teknologi kenderaan dan pertambahan penduduk dunia.

Sidang Puncak Tenaga Masa Depan Dunia 2010 di Abu Dhabi diharap mencetus kesedaran pemimpin dunia, terutama di kalangan generasi muda dan bakal pembuat dasar negara masing-masing agar mengutamakan penggunaan sumber tenaga secara jimat dan bijaksana di samping menghasilkan sumber tenaga boleh dibaharui seperti tenaga solar, air, angin dan ombak, selain biomass.

Program dinaungi Institut Sains dan Teknologi Masdar, iaitu institusi pertama seumpamanya di Asia Barat memberi tumpuan kepada penyelidikan di bidang tenaga alternatif, teknologi alam sekitar dan kemapanan.

Kegiatan sampingan selama empat hari itu diadakan sempena sidang puncak berkenaan diharap memberi input berguna kepada 150 peserta memanfaatkan perbincangan secara terbuka dengan pakar tersohor dunia dalam bidang tenaga, perubahan iklim, dasar dan kemapanan.
Ketua Eksekutif Masdar, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber dipetik laman rasmi Masdar sebagai berkata bahawa pembabitan generasi muda dalam isu berkaitan tenaga penting untuk menangani cabaran isu tenaga pada masa depan.

Malaysia turut memainkan peranan penting ke arah penghasilan sumber tenaga boleh dibaharui dengan dasar dan iltizam kepemimpinan baru negara di bawah terajui Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang dijadual turut berucap pada sidang pleno sempena sidang itu, mulai hari ini.

Dalam kenyataan disiarkan laman web sidang puncak itu, Najib berkata sidang berkenaan akan memainkan peranan penting selain Sidang Copenhagen bagi mempercepatkan penghasilan dan penggunaan tenaga boleh dibaharui, sebagai sumber masa depan.

Beliau antara pemimpin dunia yang akan berucap pada sidang pleno sempena pembukaan sidang puncak itu, selain Presiden Greece, Karolos Papoulias; Presiden Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed; Putera Mahkota Sepanyol, Putera Felipe de Borbón y Grecia dan Putera Mahkota Denmark, Putera Frederik André Henrik Christian.

Ketika mengulas cabaran penggunaan sumber tenaga boleh dibaharui, Najib berkata: "Setiap kita mempunyai tanggungjawab bagi menggalakkan penggunaan tenaga boleh dibaharui. Bagi negara membangun seperti Malaysia, kos penghasilan tenaga boleh dibaharui masih tinggi dan tidak ekonomik dari segi daya saing kerana modal tinggi mengambil masa terlalu lama untuk membuahkan hasil. Oleh itu bukan mudah untuk meyakinkan syarikat dan pelabur bagi menimbang penjanaan tenaga daripada sumber boleh dibaharui sebagai peluang pelaburan menguntungkan."

Lantaran itu, kata Najib, bagi menggalakkan pembangunan tenaga boleh dibaharui, mengadakan dasar sesuai untuk menyokong dan menyediakan persekitaran yang kondusif menjadi isu penting yang perlu ditangani kerajaan.

"Dalam hal ini, Malaysia berusaha giat ke arah itu. Bagaimanapun, perlu dinyatakan tanggungjawab ini perlu disokong oleh pihak berkaitan seperti sektor swasta, industri, perbankan dan orang awam," katanya.

Strategi diamalkan untuk pertumbuhan tenaga boleh dibaharui di Malaysia memberi tumpuan ke arah kuasa pasaran untuk mencapai matlamatnya. Malaysia berjaya menarik lebih AS$3 bilion menerusi pelaburan langsung asing (FDI) dalam industri pengeluaran produk photovoltaic kuasa suria (solar PV) dan bakal menjadi hab pengeluaran teknologi kuasa suria.

Mengenai Sidang Puncak Tenaga Masa Depan Dunia, Najib berkata: "Saya berpendapat penting bagi saya secara peribadi menyertai puncak ini dan mengambil bahagian pembangunan tenaga boleh dibaharui di peringkat dunia," katanya.

"Saya percaya sidang puncak ini akan memainkan peranan penting selain Sidang Copenhagen, kerana tenaga boleh dibaharui adalah masa depan kita. Sidang Tenaga Masa Depan Dunia akan terus menjadi antara penggerak global untuk mempercepatkan pembangunan tenaga boleh dibaharui dalam usaha kemapanan alam sekitar demi faedah generasi masa depan."

We Can Do Better To Protect Planet Earth, Says Najib

BERNAMA January 18, 2010 18:40 PM

ABU DHABI, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Despite failing to rise to the occasion during the climate talks in Copenhagen, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the international community must and can do better to ensure a healthy planet earth.

The Malaysian prime minister stressed that the challenge was to act now before it was a case of "too little, too late".

Najib acknowledged that addressing the voracious global appetite for energy seemed daunting but it was a responsibility that could neither be shirked nor abdicated.

"It's the challenge of our times that requires a concerted effort in harnessing the global reservoir of scientific and intellectual capital," he said in his keynote address at the World Future Energy Summit which opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre here Monday.

Najib said Malaysia's embracing of green technology was not only to conserve and preserve its resources, but it was also envisaged to act as a new economic impetus for the country.

Malaysia, he said, would be looking at four main sectors to implement green technologies, namely energy, transport, buildings and water.

Najib shared with his audience that Malaysia aimed to raise renewable energy to about 2,000MW by 2020 compared to the current 50MW.

He said the country's Small Renewable Energy Programme provided for a higher purchasing price for electricity generated under this initiative by the grid operator.

"We're currently in the process of instituting a renewable energy law and one of the mechanisms we're looking into is 'feed-in tariffs' to promote the usage of this type of energy," Najib said.

He noted that there was more than enough sunlight in Malaysia and increased use of solar power would be promoted aggressively.

Najib told the conference that a study had been commissioned to restructure and realign the Malaysian electricity sector.

"The findings will help lay the foundation for a more efficient industry through market mechanisms and liberalisation," he said.

The prime minister mentioned that the government was also seriously looking into expanding the usage of biofuel with a pilot project well underway.

In addition, the introduction of the Green Building Index would hopefully see more buildings going green in Malaysian soon.

Najib pointed out that Malaysia had created the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry early last year to spearhead the country's transformation into a green nation.

He said countries promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, like Malaysia, should increase the breadth and depth of the initiatives taken to reflect the urgency of the challenge confronting them.

"We have to adopt green technologies to not only enhance efficiency and effectiveness of energy use, but also to effectively mitigate carbon emissions," he noted.

Najib said for developing economies, this was an area where developed nations of the world could lend a much needed help.

Recalling the failure in Copenhagen to reach a new climate deal, Najib said: "We have time and time again chosen to take the path of expediency rather than boldly taking the bull by the horns and do what is needed and necessary to address the threat of climate change."

According to the prime minister, the Abu Dhabi energy summit could not have been better timed, allowing the stakeholders to take stock of the critical task before them.

"Hopefully, we will all leave Abu Dhabi energised, with renewed hope and vigour," said Najib who is on an official visit to Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"Our planet can no longer withstand man's unsustainable consumption and wastage. It's our moral responsibility to bequeath to our children a more pristine and healthy planet," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Tenaga to buy green energy

The Star: Tuesday January 19, 2010

By LEONG SHEN-LI

ABU DHABI: Tenaga Nasional could be legally required to buy renewable energy under new laws being drawn up by the Government, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The Prime Minister said the move would increase the availability of renewable energy in Malaysia by 100-fold from the current 50MW to 2,000MW by 2020.

He said one of the mechanisms the Government was looking into under the new law was “feed-in tariffs.”
Feed-in tariffs makes it compulsory for regional or national utility companies like Tenaga Nasional Bhd to buy renewable electricity such as electricity generated from solar, thermal, wind, wave or tidal power, biomass, hydropower and geothermal power from eligible participants.
“Currently, we are in the process of instituting a renewable energy law and one of the mechanisms we are looking into is feed-in tariffs to promote the usage of this type of energy,” he said in his keynote address at the World Future Energy Summit here yesterday.

Najib said the Government already had the Small Renewable Energy Programme, which provided for a higher purchasing price for electricity generated under this initiative by the grid operator.

“We have more than enough sunlight in Malaysia and increased use of solar power will be promoted aggressively,” he said, referring to the Suria 1000 programme which was launched in 2007.
The Suria 1000 programme allows houses and commercial buildings to become part of the country’s renewable energy initiative by producing energy through solar power.
Najib said a study has been commissioned to restructure and realign the Malaysian electricity sector.
“The findings will help lay the foundation for a more efficient industry through market mechanisms and liberalisation,” he said.
Najib pointed out that he had set up the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry last year to spearhead Malaysia’s transformation into a green nation.
“We will be looking at four main sectors to implement green technologies, namely energy, transport, buildings and water,” he said.
Najib said for transportation, the Government aimed at reducing carbon footprint by enhancing public transport.
He said energy efficient buildings have been promoted for some time and the introduction of the Green Building Index would hopefully see more buildings going green in Malaysia soon.
Besides Najib, the other heads of state or government attending the four-day summit are Greek Presi-dent Karolos Papoulias, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A sunny harvest

The Star: Tuesday January 19, 2010

By TAN CHENG LI

Japan is looking at cleaner energy sources.
THE glint of solar cells on rooftops is becoming a common sight in Japanese cities as a growing number of households are embracing the power of the sun. Their reasons for so doing, however, are not purely environmental. With the introduction of feed-in tariff rules in November, households can sell the solar energy that they produce at a rate of ¥48 (RM1.80) per unit of electricity – twice as much as the normal electricity tariff. For non-residential premises, the rate is ¥24 (90 sen).
Between 1993 and 2008, 540,000 Japanese households installed photovoltaic (PV) panels. It also helps that the government subsidises ¥70,000 (RM2,660) for every 1 kilowatt of solar installation.

Big in Japan: The solar energy sector in Japan has expanded from residential installations to huge solar farms, such as the Hokuto city mega solar project, which can supply electricity to 650 households.

The sector still needs government support and subsidies, as despite sliding prices, solar cells are still expensive, according to Keisuke Oka of the international sales division of solar company Kyocera.
Homes typically require a 3kW system, costing between ¥2mil and ¥2.5mil (RM76,000 and RM95,000). Households will use whatever solar energy that they produce in the house, and unused surplus power is sold to the power company. But later this year, the government intends to change the scheme and will pay for all the solar power generated, not just the surplus, as done in Europe.
“This will benefit the people even more as they can make a bigger profit from selling the solar energy,” says Oka. Although the initial investment in PV panels can be steep, he says one can recover the investment in about 10 years through the higher pricing of the feed-in tariff. “After 10 years, you can make money from the solar cells that you put on your roof.”
Numerous Japanese corporations have also installed PV cells on their buildings. Toyota’s assembly plant in Tsutsumi has PV panels on the roof, generating 2,400 million watt of solar power in 2008, enough to cover half of the energy needed in the final part of its assembly line. The carbon emissions from the plant is now half that of 1990. Globally, Toyota’s emissions have dropped 37% since 1990, to 1.34 million tonnes in 2008. And for Prius buyers, Toyota is offering an optional accessory: a solar cell roof that will power a ventilation fan that cools the car when it is parked.
Solar power now forms only about 2% of Japan’s energy supply but it is fast growing into a primary power source, with huge solar farms emerging. The Japan Federation of Electric Power Companies says by 2020, there will be 30 large-scale PV plants with a combined capacity of 140MW.

An apartment block with solar cells on the roofs to generate solar power, in Kitakyushu.

“Various power companies have started planning large-scale PV farms and we’ll start seeing their construction this year,” says Keiichiro Asano of NTT Facilities that is researching the 2kW Hokuto city mega solar project which has the capacity to supply the electricity needs of 650 households.
Sun city
Some prefectures are taking to solar in a big way. The Yamanashi prefecture, for instance, aims to be a “solar power kingdom”. “To achieve this, we need different solar installations. So we are encouraging PV in residences and public buildings, and also mega-solar power stations,” says Hiroshi Ono, director of the sustainable society promotion division in the environmental bureau.
He says that since the local government offered subsidies of up to ¥100,000 (RM3,800) for PV installations in April, 250 households have put up solar power systems. This incentive is in addition to the national goverment’s subsidy of ¥70,000 (RM2,660) for every 1kW installation.
With some 550 households in the prefecture generating solar energy, and plans for a large-scale 10kW solar farm in collaboration with Tokyo Electric Power Corp, Yamanashi seems poised to reach its goal of being a solar capital.
Going for renewable energy is part of Yamanashi’s plan to be CO2-free by 2050, the other measures being curtailing CO2 emissions (from households, business, industry and transport), managing forests for CO2 absorption, using other renewable energy such as micro-hydroelectric power and biomass, and emission trading.
“Streams that gush down from the mountains that surround Yamanashi make it an ideal site for hydropower schemes. We have prepared a map of 98 suitable sites,” says Ono.
A good example of a mini-hydropower scheme is seen in Tsuru, a community of 30,000 in Yamanashi. A watermill installed near the City Hall, where a canal drops down 2m, generates enough power to meet 14% of the energy needs of the building.
Seisen Ryo, a conference-cum-retreat centre in Kiyosato in Yamanashi, demonstrates a way to generate energy from waste. Chips left behind in lumbering are ground and made into pellets which are burned in a boiler for heating, thereby saving 212 tonnes of CO2 between April and October. The centre also has a 30kW PV system on the roofs of the convention and accommodation buildings that supplies 2.65% of its electricity needs. This saves 3.4 tonnes of CO2 between April and October last year.
By employing various energy sources instead of fossil fuels, Yamanashi and other Japanese prefectures and cities are well on their way to going off-grid.