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Energy Commission studying potential power storage to complement existing power grids

KUALA LUMPUR: The Energy Commission is studying the potentials of building a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to support intermittent solar power.

Energy Commission chief executive officer Razib Dawood said the study, expected to conclude by end of the year, would determine its suitability before being proposed to the government.

"We are looking into suitable location to develop BESS, as well as its cost and capacity.

"Among the countries that have such infrastructure are Hawaii and Australia," he told the New Straits Times at the 5th International Sustainable Energy Summit (ISES).

He, however, said the commission had yet to discuss on possible operator should the project receive greenlight from the government.

Razib, who was a panellist for the plenary session titled 'Empowering Energy Transition" earlier said the technology could well address the unstable solar power supply.

"Solar power, coupled with BESS, could be the solution for the intermittence.

"It can also complement the existing power grids. So, instead of continuously investing in improving power grids, energy storage could help (in meeting increasing demands on electricity)."

Earlier, Razib told conference participants that it was revisiting idea to build small modular reactor, making use of similar onboard nuclear technology powering submarines.

"The government is expected to reveal the National Energy Policy that is currently being drafted. We will find out whether this idea will be included as part of the policy."

During launch, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government would be investing in green technologies in accelerating energy transition from fossil fuel power generation.

This, he said, included re-distribution of renewable energy quota of 1,200 MW for solar, adopting Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) concept, Green Energy Island projects, the development of regulatory framework for the national Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) and establishment of legal framework for the monitoring of infrastructure development of electric vehicle (EV).

The measures were essential as Malaysia aimed to achieve the net zero carbon emission by 2050, he said.

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