SEDA Malaysia announced new degression and bonus rates for Biomass, Biogas and Solar PV

During the 2nd International Sustainable Energy Summit (ISES) 2014 last week, SEDA Malaysia was expected to announce the renewable energy (RE) quota for this year.

It was deferred, but there was an equally interesting announcement, which touches on the new rates of bonus and degression for three RE sources - Biomass, Biogas and Solar PV. This is to encourage take-up rate of biomass and biogas which has seen slow response.


Table1: Biogas and Biomass, effective January 1, 2014



Table 2: Solar PV effective March 15, 2014



Key changes: Biomass and Biogas

• Degression rates for both biomass and biogas have been reduced from 0.5% to 0%
• Increase of bonus rate for use of locally manufactured or assembled gas engine technology (biogas) and use of locally manufactured or assembled boiler or gasifier (biomass) from RM0.01 per kWh to RM0.05 per kWh for both technologies. 

Note: These new degression and bonus rates are effective from 1st January 2014.


Key changes: Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

• Degression rates adjusted to 10% across the entire Schedule, except for the bonus criteria of locally manufactured or assembled solar PV modules and solar inverters. 
• For the two bonus criteria, degression rates are retained at 0% and their bonus rates adjusted from RM0.03 per kWh (solar PV modules) and RM0.01 per kWh (solar inverters) to RM0.05 per kWh for each of them. 

Note: The new degression and bonus rates for solar PV are effective from 15th March 2014.


For complete reading of the press release, visit here.

2014 FiT quota release announcement delayed

This is one conference I've really wanted to attend. Unfortunately the dates clashed with another pertinent event in Kuala Lumpur, the Asia Water 2014 Conference which is currently ongoing - 19th to 21st March 2014.


The Deputy Minister of KeTTHA and SEDA officials at the 2^nd International Sustainable Energy Summit 2014 in Petaling Jaya.


Earlier this month, SEDA Malaysia announced in its portal that the new quota for its Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for 2014 would be announced during the 2nd International Sustainable Energy Summit, held in Petaling Jaya Selangor few days ago.


Delayed to refine FiT proposal

The announcement of the 2014 quota for its FiT programme for renewable energy would now be expected to be in April, at the earliest. Energy, Green Technology and Water ministry said this is to make some administrative adjustments.

The Malaysian Reserve reported that  a government official said the release of quotas for 12kW and below may be made as early as April but for larger projects exceeding 12kW, these may now be included in the 2015 quota. One reason why quotas for larger projects may be delayed is the amount of time it will take for some amendments to the Renewable Energy (RE) Act 2011 to be gazetted.

New legislation is needed because the threshold defining larger commercial non-individual photovoltaic (PV) projects has been brought down from 72kW to 12kW. These larger projects would need to go through a power system connectivity check by Tenaga Nasional Bhd, that would take at least 6 weeks, which can only be started once the legislation is gazetted.

Solar PV installations under 12kW do not need to undergo the connectivity test.

Some of the amendments proposed for Renewable Energy Acts 2011 are:

• sections that involved the terms and operational requirements
• FiT approval and FiT rates
• recovery of money
• redefining large commercial solar PV projects to include those beyond 12kW
• regulating the solar PV service providers
• inclusion of geothermal sources as a new RE source in the FiT programme

The Green Mechanics' two cents:

Since gazetted in 2011, the Renewable Energy Act has been revised almost annually to accommodate changing needs of the industry, which is good as we are only at an early stage of the implementation of green technology projects.

With the delay in announcement, it is fair to request that this year's roll-out be spread or extended to 2015 to give individuals and non-individual commercial holders of FiT approval sufficient time to complete their projects.

2MW landfill gas plant powers up 1000 homes

Thanks to innovative people.

According to Malaysia Book of Records, the biogas power plant at the Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill in Puchong is the first plant in the country to generate electricity using landfill gas.

About the landfill gas power plant:

Location                             : Puchong, Selangor
Landfill name                    : Worldwide Landfill Parks (renamed after being rehabilitated)
Generating capacity          : 2 MW
Feed-in tariff scheme         : Biogas (energy is sold to TNB at RM0.40/kWh for 16 years)
Feed-in tariff approval       : Since March 2012
Energy source                   : Landfill - solid wastes collected from around Klang Valley since 1995
Stored energy                   : The land-filled waste can sustain energy production for at least 16 years
Number of homes served  : about 1,000 although some reports stated 2,000 households.
Others                               : The park is open to visitors and researchers.

Zamri Abdul Rahman (left) showing SEDA CEO, Badriyah Abdul Malek (second right) and other SEDA representatives on how the methane gas is siphoned out for producing electric energy. Pic by NST/Che Rani Che Din


The Puchong Experience: 2 MW is produced at landfill gas plant

The methane gas from the Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill in Puchong -- generated from the waste accumulated over the past 10 years -- is now being put to good use to produce electricity.

The gas, found in landfills, is converted into electricity in a gas power plant that transfers the gas from underground pipes into an energy converter to produce, on average, two mega watts of energy every month. The electricity output is said to be able to power about a thousand households.

The landfill, which was closed after it reached its maximum use in 2006, was rehabilitated and renamed as Worldwide Landfills Park, with the renewable energy project undertaken by Worldwide Landfills Sdn Bhd. The landfill, saturated with 6.2 million metric tonnes of waste from its decade-old operations, can produce the 2MW energy for at least another 16 years.

The project was initiated in 2004, in cooperation with TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd.

According to Worldwide Holdings Bhd general manager (environment) Zamri Abdul Rahman, the landfill was recently named as the first sanitary landfill to produce 2MW electricity in the Malaysia Book of Records.

"We are proud of the achievement and recognition given for the landfill. Nevertheless, our aim is to produce renewable energy from the waste at this former landfill," he said.

He said the project was initiated to supply power to the landfill operations but with TNB's participation, the electricity produced is now sold to TNB for 40 sen per kilo watt.

"The 2MW energy will be channelled to the main national power grid," he said.

Zamri added the Worldwide Landfills Park is open to visitors, especially students or agencies carrying out research on waste management and environmental studies. He said the company was looking at other landfills to convert them into power producers.

Zamri was speaking at a briefing session on the plant's operation to Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) chief executive officer Badriyah Abdul Malek and SEDA board members.
Source: New Straits Times


TheGreenMechanics' two cents: 

We have a solid waste dumping site near Kota Kinabalu located in Kayu Madang Telipok which I think would have been filled beyond its capacity by now. Some estimates this facility to be covering up to 145 hectares in lanfill area.

The dumping site has been there for more than 10 years and there's every possibility that this could surpass the capacity and sustainability of the gas power plant in Puchong, Selangor.