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Sarawak Premier Abang Johari announces renewable energy capacity mix surpassing 60% target. (Photo: Nana Chen)
Sarawak, Malaysia, has made significant strides in renewable energy development, with installed capacity for power generation reaching 62% this year—six years ahead of the original target. Hydropower is the primary contributor to this achievement, and the government is now focusing on expanding biomass energy to accelerate the country's green energy transition.
Sarawak rich in hydropower resources
During a speech at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) on October 21, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari highlighted the state’s "Post-COVID Development Strategy 2030" (PCDS 2030), which positions renewable energy as a core component of socioeconomic development, aiming to elevate Sarawak to a high-income region.
According to government plans, the share of renewable energy was initially projected to reach 60% by 2030, a goal that has now been achieved early. Abang Johari noted that hydropower currently constitutes 70% of the total electricity generation, leading to a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Between 2010 and 2022, Sarawak successfully cut its emissions by 73%.
Sarawak’s three major hydropower plants located at Bakun, Murum, and Batang Ai. The floating solar farm at Batang Ai is expected to become Malaysia's largest floating solar power station upon completion later this year, capable of reducing carbon emissions by 52,000 tons annually. This project will also integrate with a pumped hydro energy storage system, allowing excess electricity to be stored by pumping water to higher elevations for later use during peak demand.
The Bakun Hydroelectric Plant, located in central Sarawak. (Photo: Sarawak Energy)
Abang Johari optimistic about biomass energy
Abang Johari further emphasized the potential for biomass energy, highlighting ongoing developments in algae and Napier grass as biomass fuel sources. A factory in Bintulu has successfully exported Napier grass pellets to the UK. One of the goals of PCDS 2030 is to increase the share of overseas renewable energy revenue to 15% by 2030.
Moreover, Abang Johari believes Sarawak has the potential to become the "Battery of ASEAN," leveraging its abundant renewable energy resources to serve as a hub for energy trade in Southeast Asia. Currently, Sarawak is exporting renewable energy to West Kalimantan in Indonesia via interconnected power grids.
Source: Bernama、New Straits Times、The Straits Times、The Star
