Generate electricity at home and earn money

Ever thought of running your home appliances without worrying about your utility bill? Really, in Malaysia? Isn't that the familiar catch line of a spam mail? Is it possible?

Short answer: Yes. It is possible.


Long answer:

Our monthly bill is about RM180 to RM250 monthly, depending on how energy-wise we are on a particular month. I would like to trim that to, say RM30 to RM50 or even zero without having to switch of my fridge, air-conditioners, and other energy guzzling equipment.

This is very much possible with the enactment of the Renewable Energy (RE) Act 2010. According to the RE Bill 2010, residential homes that produce solar energy could earn up to RM1.75 per kWh of electricity produced. Dewan Rakyat has approved the bill earlier this month and once it is enacted  (hopefully next month) it becomes a law. Let me explain.

1 kWh of electricity is 1 Unit of energy consumed as stated in our SESB bills. We are paying a tiered rates for domestic tariff, i.e. RM0.24/unit for the first 40 kWh and RM0.16/unit for the next 160 kWh, and RM0.28/unit for the remainder. If you are to install Solar PV System on your rooftop, SESB will pay you up to RM1.75/unit for the “net” kWh your solar system feed-back to SESB grid. Apparently not the "net kWh", read the Update HERE. (Kindly disregard the following example and explanation)

Interesting? For me, it is.

I say “net” as the energy that is fed back to the grid is the difference between energy that is produced by your home Solar PV System and the energy consumed by your home. Don’t worry about how it’s computed; SESB’s meter will do it for you.

Example:
If your Solar System produced 200kWh this month and your energy consumption is 150kWh then SESB owes you RM87.50 (50kWh x RM1.75). That is an income. But if your energy consumption is 220kWh then you’ll be billed RM4.80 (20kWh x RM0.24, tiered).

Without the Solar PV system, you pay SESB RM27.20 (150kWh x 0.24 & 0.16, tiered) and RM40.80 (220kWh x 0.24 & 0.16 & 0.28, tiered) respectively for the above cases.

For a complete electricity tariff check the SESB Tariff Structure and Rates.

The feed-in tariff works by giving you income when you feed in electricity to the power supplier (SESB) grid and only charge you when you consume more than what your Solar Power system produce.

This tariff is applicable if your Solar Power system is generating up to maximum of 4kWp. The 4kWp refers to the size of the solar power system and in most cases is sufficient to power up a semi-detached house. For installation of bigger than 4kWp, the feed-in tariff is slightly lower.

To give you an idea of how much you’d need to invest, a 1kWp system would cost you RM15,000 to set up, so, for a fairly sufficient capacity of 4kWp system for your bungalow you will need to fork out RM60,000 or perhaps slightly lower. Source: The Star Online

A bit expensive but the Bill has a provision for a guaranteed income for the next 21 years from the date of signing the agreement with your local power producers, such as TNB, SESB or SESCO. That is long enough a payback period and perhaps even outlast the lifespan of the solar panels.

Let’s hope the cost to install solar panels for residential homes drops dramatically when more people start adopting, plus declining cost of the technology.

It interests me and I may seriously consider this when the incentive is rolled out fully.


Further readings:

1) Higher income for home solar energy – The Star
2) Malaysia to start Feed-In Tariff (FIT) for Renewable Energy by 2011 - GK Sdn Bhd

Earth Hour 2011

What is it?

Uncle Google and Aunty Wiki should be on hand to help  you out in case you still do not know what it is. Excerpt from Wikipedia:

Earth Hour is a global event organized by World Wildlife Fun and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

For 2011 that special one hour falls on 26th March, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm local time.

A little bit about Earth Hour:

1. Started of in Sydney, Australia in 2007 (2.2mil people participate)
2. In 2008 participation grew to more than 50mil people
3. In 2009 more than 100mil people from over 4000 cities and 88 countries touched the switches.
4. In 2010 enormous responses from more than 128 countries, no estimate given but it should not be less than half a billion people.

Earth hour has transformed into a kind of celebration with a lot of activities towards making the public aware of the need to safeguard earth from negative climate change. Concerts, seminars, workshops, photography contests, beauty pageants, power-saving campaigns; it's like you-name-it-we-have-it kind of thing.

This year DBKK (Kota Kinabalu City Hall) is organising a photography contest. Good opportunity for photographers and hobbyist. I can't take part on this one but would definitely take part on the switching-off of non-essential lights.

Do visit Earth Hour official website and have fun making your very own lantern lights.

This is what I got from there and I like the lantern to be red in colour.

Happy Earth Hour day on 26th March 2011.

SESB: Loss of revenue due to power theft

AWAS! Stealing electricity can kill! I will not elaborate but there was this recent case near us reported in the local newspaper.

Well, that's the least I can say about power theft. I can always report funny activities by unscrupulous individual or group to SESB but that is all. In fact that is the best we, the ordinary citizen can do. After that it's really down to the licence holder/s of power supply to act.

I read a recent news published by Bernama about power theft by squatters or immigrants in Tenom. SESB denied that this ever happened as "upon inspection" there was no connection (read no cable found, no trace of joint) to the Sport Complex.

Come on now! You can't go and inspect after it was already in the news. If I were to be that thief, I'd have remove all my cables and fittings by the time your personnel made a move. Surely the folks must've inform somebody at the regional office discreetly before going public.

There were cases of power theft by squatters near Arkib Negeri sometime ago and what SESB did was to remove the "hook" connectors on the overhead lines and as expected the illegal connection was intact again few days later. Can we not go to the root of the problem rather than treating just the symptoms. (this particular problem was solved by the construction of Ujana Rimba Tropika recreational park as there was no more space for the squatting houses). But what about the many other places that are still leaking precious energy?

REVENUE LOSS OF RM3 MILLION A YEAR! I'm quoting New Sabah Times.

That is what SESB quoted a couple of years ago regarding loss of revenue due to power theft in Sabah. That is a lot of money. Say a unit of energy cost RM0.30 on average. BTW our tariff is tiered so take this figure as approximation. With that kind of unpaid bill, the energy loss is about 11 million kWH.

That's not very green way to manage energy I'd say!

The 11mil kWH can power up:

1) Two 40-50 MLD of water treatment plant for a whole ONE year, or
2) Three 3/4-star hotel in Kota Kinabalu, such as Hyatt, Promenade, for ONE whole year, or
3) Two medium sized sawmills in Sandakan for ONE whole year!!

Why waste the precious energy when the state is faced with insufficient electrical power supply? Is it because the RM3mil is not my and your money? Well, it is partly mine and yours. Are we talking too much, pacifying, and forget about taking action once the hu-ha is over? It's a shame!

So, act on eradicating the power theft. Not just concentrating on disconnecting the supply of registered consumers after one or two month of default in payment. These are soft target so less resources is required to carry out enforcement.

I say go greener by putting effort to stop 10mil kWH of wastage and spare mother earth of further warming. At the same time save yourself a couple of million of Ringgit in the process.

Stop wasting, stop procrastinating and stop the power theft!

Semoga berjaya!

Greenest City In Asia: Singapore

There's little surprise about this finding. In fact I was not surprised at all as I've been reading quite a lot about Singapore and was really impressed with their Government's effort to strike a balance between growing concrete jungle and catering for the monkey.

Of course I didn't literally mean that!

This is how the ranking works:

a) SIEMENS commissioned a study, and

b) EIU - Economist Intelligence Unit (independent body) carries it out.

c) 22 cities in Asia were selected, including our capital Kuala Lumpur.

d) Analyse their aims towards green environment and climate protection.

e) Check their achievements.

Few months later Siemens announced and singled out Singapore city as the greenest metropolis. There are 5 categories of benchmark, namely:

1. WELL above average

2. Above average

3. Average <-----(Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur is here!!)

4. Below average

5. WELL below average

Cities in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan occupy the second category, while KL sits "comfortably" (I think) at the AVERAGE.

We had a vacation in Singapore in December 2010 and the first impression as we touch down and then on the drive ways is that the city is clean and the infrastructure is well-organised. Not a place to do your shopping spree tho, especially if you are coming from a country with less than strong currency exchange.

So who are KL's peers scoring AVERAGE? Shanghai, Delhi, Beijing, Bangkok, to name a few. Who are at par with us does not really matter. What matters is the action taken towards achieving the target. Every now and then we hear on our TVs and radios that Malaysia is taking this action and taking that moves, to show that we are committed to going green, and we now have one ministry that looks specifically into ensuring that the country will grow into developed industrial nation while maintaining sustainable implementation of Green Technology.

It is good to have goals and it is good to bore the people to death with the awareness programmes, but is no good getting slow with actions and results. Green technology is not cheap (not just yet) but it's time we start adopting this in bigger scale, starting with energy and infrastructure. In short, think less about our plan to build more coal-fired power plants and spend a bit more on the more expensive renewal energy sources.

Kota Kinabalu city is heading in the right direction with many implemented projects to beautify it, to make it eco-friendly, people-friendly but these are still at infancy. More effort is needed by the new Mayor.

Like yourself, I am also a tax payer and I would not mind at all if Mr. Abidin Madingkir (our new KK Mayor) choose Singapore city as his first official oversea destination.

Best of wishes to all of us in Kota Kinabalu and congratulations, Singapore!

Verdict: Shelf the coal-fired power plant, Save the monkey?

Artist's impression of the coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.
Credit to: SESB Corporate News.

Please dump the heading. Don't take me literally. The title implied nothing about insulting anyone, any individual, any NGO nor does it implies my support for a coal-fired plant. It's just to express what is currently being adopted.

The plan to build it has been "halted" (read: it may be re-proposed by SESB) due to Department of Environment's rejection of the impact assessment (DEIA). What a cool call by DOE. Decision should be made based on fact and with professionalism.


Let's recall some of what our leaders said then and now, about the proposed plant:

Our Chief Minister said that Coal-fired plant in Lahad Datu is the best solution to address the power supply problems in the East Coast.

The Star quoted Datuk Masidi of saying Coal power plant in Sabah is history. He was assuming that's the end of the story. How I wish I can make the same assumption...!

Earlier this year our lost 'love spark' with coal-fired plant was re-ignited with the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water - Datuk Peter Chin - saying that the Federal Govt will be talking again with the State Govt to re-discuss the proposed plant. Okay, so much for a Green Technology there.

After reading that the proposed project was suspended, I tought I would not want to write anymore about this. It seem I was wrong. We really need to know facts and figures about other alternatives now that it apparently is not the end of story on the 'dirty energy' just yet.

For a start, to generate 1MW of energy through Solar, it'll require a land of about 6 acres to generate; not talking about cost yet. Note that 1MW (1000kW) is barely sufficient to power up a medium-sized timber complex or palm-oil mill. Just to keep you pondering.

Currently Malaysia has 6 coal-fired power plant, including 2 in Sarawak. If you have Sarawakian friends, ask them about their experience.

For you, Big Players of Green/Renewable Energy, take this:

"We have committed to purchase 100MW from Biomass. If ANYONE can provide 100MW tomorrow, we will purchase it tomorrow!" - Ir Abd Razak Sallim, Senior General Manager, SESB. He mentioned this during a seminar/briefing. I can quote a date and place if anyone's interested.

There you are, it's a challenge + opportunity.

Taklimat Janakuasa Arang Batu - SESB HQ

I was at the recent SESB Open Day (17 July 2010) to attend the briefing on the implementation of the proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu. It was a half day "Taklimat Perlaksanaan Projek Penjanaan kuasa Arang Batu" held to brief the public (upon invitation) on the measures taken by SESB to mitigate ill effect of this particular method of generating power.

We were shown video clips of interviews, studies of the environment at the vicinity of the other coal-fired power plants in West Malaysia and Sarawak. Of course this was done by TNB or SESB, and or consultants in favour of this project. EIA report was not discussed but as i understand it, the report would be further deliberated very soon. On who will attend it, is still a question mark.

Will write more on the current generating capacity of coal-fired plants in Malaysia a little bit later.

What was missing was that there were no external parties making comments or presenting findings/concerns during the open day. Or, should SESB have invited one or two? Or, would they do that, can they do that? I really wanted to hear a second opinion. Maybe opinion from the folks staying nearby, interviews done by a non-interested party.

Nonetheless, it was an eye opener as I was like more open to opinion from both camps of 'for and against' now. I wouldn't shut my ear to the government's intention whilst listening to the concern of others.

For those who attended it, what's your take on this (the setting up of such power plant)? I'd say stay green, but is such project really the biggest culprit to the preceived hazards?/ accident waiting to happen?

Be in the know and judge for yourself.

Go for Wind

That's right. If there's even a small potential for power generation through wind milling, w should go for it. It's one of the cleanest source of energy available, apart from solar cell and hydro-electric generator.

This year's Wind Power Asia (WPA) seminar was in Beijing, China, visited by a total of 15,065 visitors calling from 43 countries worldwide with some 445 exhibitors featured at the trade fair. Number of exhibiting companies has doubled compared to 2008. I really hope this is a sign of not just awareness of the general public about going green, but also commitment from all industry players in looking for cleaner energy solution.

Travelling to China is not that expensive anymore nowadays with Air Asia flying direct from KLIA. Next year's similar seminar/conference would be in June 2010, it would be very interesting to find out what's in store this year. Given the time and means, I would very much love to visit such event. For now, the nearest thing to look up to is the Low Energy Office initiative undertaken by SESB Kota Kinabalu. I understand that there are still a lot need to be done on the installation of solar panels at their Tanjung Aru show unit. Time to make a visit.

Take your pick:--

A. Coal plant (such as the one proposed in Lahad Datu), RM500mil?

B. Wind mills (such as the one mentioned for Pulau Banggi), or the ongoing Rural Solar project, RM1bil??

C. Possible tie-up of Hydro power gen from the controversial Kaiduan Dam project in Penampang, RM2.8bil?

Take some time out and think about where our billions of ringgit should go to.


I KNOW WHAT TO CHOOSE.

Low Energy Office

The Daily Express reported that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd has set up a Low Energy Office, LEO, using solar power.

It was completed in March but announced to the public only last month.

At this stage solar power is supplying electricity only to the “test building” itself which is smaller but SESB aims to extend the usage of such alternative power supply to the main office building in the future. By the way, the LEO is located at their Tanjung Aru office.

What I can gather from their meet-the media session is somewhat vague and question-inviting information as follows:

53 watts        – is the energy that one PV cell (PV – photovoltaic) can produce.
RM18mil       – is required to generate 200kW of energy (to light up 400 houses).
RM100,000   – is the cost to build a roof solar panel system.
30 years       – is the typical lifespan of solar panel.

One can always debate these figures as cost of setting up solar power systems is becoming cheaper every year due to the various incentives from the Government and popularity of this clean energy source. In fact there are still a lot of variations to that figures if we compare them to those implemented at other places in Malaysia.

In any case, LEO is the way to go!

* picture - courtesy of D.Express

Tax incentive for Renewable Energies?

Malaysia may have a law to help spur the development of renewable energy, reports Business Times. It says that the Ministry concerned has consulted TNB to get the power producer's input on the matter. If this happen then it would be a big step for Malaysia to embrace green technologies.

Malaysia is considered to be one of the major players in SE Asian nations in terms of renewable energy, but industry development wise, we are behind Thailand. Thailand has more renewable power connected to the country's power grid and this is where the Law (should there be any law enacted soon) can boost green energy in Malaysia.

According to TNB's renewal energy unit, Malaysia has about 67MW of power from renewable sources connected to the grid, while Thailand probably has about 10 times more.

Another South East Asian nation, the Philippines, have enacted its own RE law designed to expand the supply of electricity from RE sources in the country. The Philippines ways of doing it include:

Power plants using RE sources get income tax exemption for the first 7 years of operation.

Electricity generated from renewable sources receives preferential feed-in.

Targets 60% of its energy demand to be covered with its own RE resources by 2010.

Amazing! Malaysia should take cue of this and move fast. Do it big and do it now, or it will remain as just talk and dream.

Please take some time to further read here.

Hybrid Solar-Diesel Power - Part I

If in March 2009, someone by the name of En Hamid (a deservedly Sabahan Hero) showed to the world that one does not need to have a certificate to build a hydro-power generator, this time Tambunan came to light again with the commissioning of a hybrid solar power-diesel generator in mid-June 2009 at one of the remote villages.
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Suitable for places at remote locations, this system supply electricity continuously during wet and rainy seasons. The term hybrid refers to a system in which two or more supplies from different energy sources are integrated to supply electricity to the same demand.
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Schematic diagram of a hybrid PV solar-diesel power generator

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Simply put, an array of PV panels is installed side by side with a diesel power generator and the operations is controlled via centralised control panel manually. The system can be upgraded such that the changeover from solar power supply to starting up of diesel power generator takes place automatically.

Storage batteries are used to store energy harnessed through the PV panels during sunny days. During wet season, whereby PV panels could not 'collect' sufficient energy so meet night time energy requirement, the diesel power generator would kick in and take over the job.
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Pretty simple isn't it? The big question is determination. I did not put "cost" as the stumbling block as cost can be relative, depending on the focus and determination of the government to alleviate the situation of our rural folks.

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What is the cost then, you may ask. Okay, take a village of about 30 household which would require about 30kW (capped at 1kW/household) of total load. You are talking about RM700k to RM800k for a complete system. Take into consideration import taxes and other regulatory payments which can be discounted for government initiative, we may be looking at half of that cost??
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SESB Should Compensate Traders, Factories

This was not from me, although I'd agree readily to such demand.

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Kalabakan Member of Parliment, Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh said this during a briefing session in Merotai, Tawau recently (D.Express 9/5/2009).
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Of course SESB (Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd) and TNB should compensate us. If electricity supply is disrupted in the peninsula, "the traders are paid for the losses they incurred." So, where is the fairness? Do SESB and TNB has different set of terms and conditions for consumer supply of electricity? If consumers don't pay up their bills, then what? Or put it the other way, what happen if the utility fails to supply power as stipulated in the contract? Something or someone has to give way.
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Experience has tought me that the utility would come up with sufficient reasons, excuses, and explaination everytime they deprive us of this necessity.
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Your application for compensation could not be considered due to....bla bla bla

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"faults in transmission lines beyond our control.."

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"intermittent problem considered not our fault.."

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"transient voltage that is not common and cannot posibly by our fault.."

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errr..excuse me, please keep the jargon to yourself and explain to me in a language less alien to me. I'm just a consumer, you know.

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Every organisation has the right to explain its side of the story, including giving excuses (if that's what the commoners would take as meaning of "explaination"). But wait, when did TNB took ownership of LLS (SEB) from Sabah Government? That's in 1998, what kind of their side of the story we are talking about here? Surely one would not wait for more than 10 years to come out with significantly better services; if 10 years is a time not sufficient, then I don't know what is. I can't imagine someone's hoping for a "puff!! then all things change to perfection" come 2020, our sacred date for Industrialised Nation vission.

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Alright, let's be a little bit fair to SESB and let us take a look at their current situation:

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Current generation mix of SESB shows that half of the capacity is generated through Gas-fired, while a third through Fuel-fired generators (internally sourced + imported). Currently there is no Coal-fired generator in Sabah and recently TNB Chairman, Tan Sri Leo Moggie said that there is no other alternative practical option for Sabah to address the power shortage, apart from the proposed coal-fired plant. We are talking about construction of new plant and operational costs here, so it is not just about one time cost to build the plant.
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In terms of preparing for the future, SESB is not too bad. Plans such as shown above will take care of our need for at least untill 2015. Question is, how far in term of progress and commitment to their plan, have they gone at the moment? Plans are good but how about pruning the countless illegal power connection a.k.a theft.

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Sabah Water Department's NRW (non-revenue water) is the highest in Malaysia, if not in the world at more than 65%. What is SESB's NRE (non-revenue energy)? Could it be as bad?

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This diagram shows SESB's grid interconnection. Major works have been completed in recent times to interconnect East and West coast of Sabah, I believe they have spent a lot of money upgrading and putting up PMUs at strategic locations. So, well done, we are actually "connected", people in the Eastcoast should enjoy supply of power "as much as" of those in the Westcoast.

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Note: I highlighted it in bold as we don't actually have that much of power here in the Westcoast as well.
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Note the grid in green which is the 275KV overhead transmission lines stretching from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. That would be about 300km in length. Add about, say 400km of similar lines and we are tapping power from Bakun already.

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Of course it would be costly, considering Leo Moggie's contention that at merely 500MW of current demand for Sabah, it is not viable to spend billions of Ringgit in transmission lines. Well, Tan Sri, you need some correction there. SESB MD, Ir.Baharin Din mentioned that the current "regular demand" for electricity in Sabah is at 650MW.

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Surely, SESB can organise a power distribution restructuring if it decides to purchase power from Bakun, it is not so much about "commitment to supply to peninsule is justified due to the greater power demand", but rather the leaders' commitment to solve the power supply shortage in Sabah itself.
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It's partly economic viability of the whole project, but it is also partly on the social obligation of TNB as a sole entity in supplying electricity to the people. Because you are depriving others who might provide better services to the people, you must assume the social responsibility as well; every head has it's price!
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I must shout my mouth off now, so, let the bosses and leaders do the talking now. Read further below and you'll find that other political leaders have voiced out few things as well. Have they gone into silent mode now? That's for you to find out.

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Enjoy this...
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BN-Likas Slammed TNB, SESB Over "Poor" Power Supply In Sabah

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maybe, things like Leader brandishes gun at negotiation talks with SESB maycould've had some bearing on the performance of, whoever.

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'Blackouts got worse after SESB takeover' - CASH. You may not agree with him most of the time, but he barks regularly, at least.
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Uncertain: Decision, decision, decision. When will you come down hard on us?

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Bakun power to Sabah "not likely, (because) it is already committed" - TNB Chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie.

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Minister Peter Chin - possibility to tap power from Bakun. Looks like ministers have differing answers when the rakyat is asking.
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So which one is a greener option? Bakun power and some restructuring or coal-fired power plant?

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Kyoto Box - Solar Cooker

Memasak tanpa menggunakan tenaga elektrik, kayu api, atau gas? Boleh! Malah ianya sangat mudah dan murah, sekurang-kurangnya itu pendapat Jon Bøhmer, individu yang telah mencipta Kotak Kyoto (Kyoto Box). Untuk ciptaannya Bohmer telah memenangi USD75,000 daripada penganjur pertandingan, Forum for the Future.

Pembuatan Kotak Kyoto sangat ringkas, murah (kira-kira $7 sahaja) dan boleh dilakukan oleh sesiapa sahaja. Terdiri daripada dua kotak kadbod, kotak yang kecil sedikit dicat hitam untuk menyerap tenaga haba dari matahari dan ditutup dengan akrilik (kepingan lutsinar seperti plastik/cermin) untuk memerangkap haba tadi.
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Kotak ini seterusnya dimasukkan ke dalam kotak yang lebih besar sedikit yang telah dilapisi helaian aluminium terlebih dahulu. Helaian aluminium ini bertujuan memfokuskan haba matahari ke arah kotak kecil. Pada hari yang terik, suhu dalam kotak kecil boleh mencapai 80 darjah Celcius dengan cepat.

Ciptaan ringkas ini dikatakan sesuai digunakan tempat-tempat di mana tiada bekalan tenaga letrik dan tempat dimana sumber bahan bakar (kayu api, gas dan sebagainya) sukar diperolehi.

Walaupun terdapat banyak bantahan dan sindiran daripada masyarakat moden mengenai kesesuaian dan praktikaliti kotak ini tetapi saya berpendapat ciptaan sebegini rupa layak diberi pengiktirafan kerana ia berpotensi untuk mmberi manfaat kepada berjuta-juta penduduk di tempat-tempat seperti Afrika dan Arab (gurun), India dan China (penduduk padat & ruang terhad), dan tempat-tempat lain yang masih ketinggalan dari segi pembangunan.

Baca mengenai Kotak Kyoto di BBC News, dan tontoni Video Kyoto Box di Sini

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Blank Billboards in The City

Billboard advertising is one of the better choices in the urban area as they are the most visible structures that greet (or distract) you every time you pass through such advertisement.

I read sometime in March 2009 that certain opposition YB mentioned of no less than 20 empty billboards in the city and that they have become eyesores. Well I can testify to that; the number is increasing every day. All in the name of cutting costs due to the recession eh? Okay, lets have a look at the going cost to put up a typical adverts on outdoor billboards:

1) Size 10ft x 40ft, constructed 15ft above ground, rental per year: RM 30,000 onward

2) Unipole 20ft x 60ft/80ft, constructed 30ft above ground, rental per year: RM 300,000 onward.

Then there is the cost of replacing computer printed vinyl, labour charges, GST and lightings which add up to few more thousands of RM..

It is not that cheap to promote your products and services this way but with some synergy between advertising companies, the advertisers and the Government, Billboard Advertising should continue to beautify rather than mess our roads and city during difficult times. Some give-and-take steps that are worth looking into are:

1. Local authorities (councils) to put up advertisements pertaining to their activities;
2. Advertisement agencies/service providers to 'decorate' empty boards with nice designs as a means of promoting their services;
3. The Government to give some tax incentives to advertising companies to cover blank boards;
4. Under IRB (LHDN) taxation system there are rebates for individuals or companies who donate to the museums, book/painting galleries, etc. Explore this option for educative advertisement such as 'Keep Our City Clean', 'Drive Faster Proceed to Hell', 'Clean River Saves Water' and 'Say No To Smoking', "Kurangkan Pembaziran Berbelanja Dangan Bijak', etc.
5. Sorry, but if everything else fails, consider removing those blank billboards.
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City centre - empty unipole billboard. Why don't DBKK take up the huge space? This board is right in front of its nose.

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Putatan: Servey Hypermarket should really take this up at possibly reduced rent rate as this has been empty for sometime now. This board is located right at the junction leading to the big mart.

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KK-Papar road. If you are driving up from Papar to Kota Kinabalu, this sight will soon become a common experience.

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Grand Millennium: as if the nuisance created by the 'stray' concrete wastewater pipes is not enough, the empty billboard stands out as the bigger eyesore winner.

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Donggongon: "Excuse me, are you taking down all of those? That'll be nice.."

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QEH roundabout - Kenapa tidak digunakan ruang kosong ini untuk bercerita sedikit tentang bangunan QEHospital yang tidak selamat tu! Kalau RM245juta tiada masalah, apalah sangat RM24.5k sewa billboard tu untuk setahun...?

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Tuaran: There is another empty billboard facing this eyesore that is better off taken out.

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Tamparuli: Located in front of the popular Jambatan Tamparuli and the colonial pipe-and-conctete bridge, this billboard is a suitable one for welcoming visitors to Tamparuli. Some informative caricatures or plain text would plug the empty 'hole'

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Educative advertisement: Possible advertorial to fill up billboards

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Oh..and remember sometime ago someone proposed for marriage to his girlfriend through huge billboard advertisement? Yes those were in Luyang and Tg. Aru-Papar junction. Let's wish few more will spend big to repeat such feat.

No idea how much that gentleman spent then but the one in Damansara Puchong Highway last year was said to have 'invested' RM40,000 for it. Hehe..I like the word invest when it come to spending.

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For a change, check this out for a nice billboard adverts!

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Subsidised Solar Power?

This may sound too good to be true but while you are reading this, the Government is already subsidising the cost of installing energy producing solar panel (Photovoltaic, PV). In my earlier writings the Government has given the first tier of subsidy through Suria 1000 initiative by Pusat Tenaga Malaysia.

The second tier is to push through a set of Acts that would "force" the utilities to buy excess power produced by the BIPV participants at 4 to 6 times their selling price. Fingers crossed, let's hope this will be passed in the Parliament soon.

A glimpse at the perks that the one can get from the subsidy:

Household power requirement: 4kWh (urban)
Cost to install 4.2kWp of BIPV: RM100,000
Govt subsidy (Suria1000): RM50,000 (50% of the total capital)

Govt will spend RM5bil in subsidy if it is to target 100,000 household with BIPV installed and that is a mere 0.4% of the population. There goes our stimulus package of RM5 billion. Pass the proposed Bill and our Government could fork out another RM80 to RM100mil monthly to pay up the claims from Utilities.

Say, rural households only require half of the average urban households consumption. The amount can benefit less than 0.8% of the population. By and far this technology is reachable only to the privileged few because no average income individual will be able to come out with RM50k to pay for their electricity bills 15 to 20 years in advance.

The current subsidy structure, apparently, only benefits the rich; not even the middle income group can afford this. It is felt that, the Government can actually setup an integrated BIPV or even a dedicated PV structure for a group or groups of household in the rural areas, make the people pay a bit of monthly fee and maintain the system for continuous supply without costly maintenance.

By the same calculation RM2mil can supply electricity to 40 households (limited to 2kW per household), this will provide sufficient power supply for basic necessities such as lightings, fans and small sized refrigerator. All in all, RM3mil should be sufficient for a the whole village of 40 households. This can just be another SPNB project by the Government.

If it can be done in the case of building low-cost houses foo the hardcore poor, where participant pay somewhat RM140/month, it can also be implemented for electrifying the remote villages. It is returning the investment, in a long run.
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Solar Power Part II

By virtue of its name, Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) refers to solar power system that is integrated to the building structure that forms part of the building itself. In most cases the roofing.

I have mentioned in my earlier posting "Solar Power, a Viable Option?", that under Suria 1000 programme, the public get a rare opportunity of generating their own solar power. Called BIPV system, the Government give discount of up to 75% of the capital price. Meaning, you come out with 25% of the capital and the remaining 75% is from the Government. There is a catch though - you have to bid for the system.

The higher you bid (i.e. the higher amount that you are willing to contribute to the capital) the higher the chances of you getting it.

Main issues concerning the BIPV are:

1) Solar panels or the PV modules (60% - 62% of total price)
2) Inverter (8% - 10%)
3) Mounting structures (varies depending on complexity, estd 18%)
4) Electrical works and others (10%)

1. PV modules are normally rated at standard wattage, e.g. 175Wp (Watt-peak). Thus, in order to install a 3.5kWp BIPV system, you will need 20 units of PV.
2. Inverter refers to a module that converts DC to AC power. In the case of grid connected system, the inverter needs to be fed back to the local utility, e.g. SESB grid.
3. As PV modules do not exactly act as roof, they need to be installed on mounting structures, preferably SS, above the roof.
4. Depending on space, the PV modules can be connected in series, parallel or combination of both. Total power generated is the number of modules multiplied by the PV power rating.

Other issues that you need to consider upon installing BIPV are close monitoring of the system performance for a certain period and maintenance of the PV modules, although experience showed this to be minimal.

Malaysian Standards, MS 1837: 2005 provides guidelines for installation of grid connected PV system.

Green Granny

I was watching Biz@502 (Bernama TV) today and at the end of the half-an-hour program, the presenter mentioned a mervelous job done by a granny, Barbara Warmsley in giving tips on how to save money that would consequently enable you to live better.

She normally greets you like this:

"Hello - I'm Barbara, your Green Granny. I'm here to share a tip or two about how you can save cash and live better."

BTW, all her tips are on video, you can find them at YouTube.

I've seen many of the videos and find them full of practical ways to make the most of what you buy. With the economic glooms currently filling the news it is certainly clear that being thrifty and saving for a rainy day are the obvious things that we want to do.

For me, the best bit about all of this is that you get to do your bit for the planet and save some cash at the same time.

You can watch her here.

Good luck!

Solar Power a Viable Option?

As long as there is sunshine, there is energy to be harnessed.

It is possible to power the world with solar energy - that was what came out as answer to a curious question posed to the speakers during the two-day International Energy Agency Task-1 meeting at Kinabalu Hyatt Regency in March 2009.

Technical competence is there and apart from the cost, there is nothing that can hinder the full utilisation of this technology. Ahmad Hardi Haris of energy centre Malaysia compared this to the cost of generating electrical power using coal-fired plant:

Cost per kilowatt:
coal-fired plant - RM3,000 to 4,000
PhotoVoltaic - RM25,000 (RM27k-30k in 2007)

RM25k is equivalent to 10 years of electricity bills of RM210 per month. Wow! no kidding, this is no doubt very expensive, but with the right approach from both the government and power utility companies (TNB/SESB), it is a viable option.

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Why so?

Firstly, at the moment there is an incentive program by the government through PTM (Malaysia Energy Centre) called Suria 1000, whereby the government gives the public rebates of up to 75% to make it more affordable to install a BIPV system in their homes.

Secondly, implementation of the Feed-in Tariffs. If such Act on Feed-in Tariffs is to be enacted, utility (e.g SESB) will pay Feed-in Tariffs to households and commercial solar service providers between 4 to 6 times their selling price. Then utility will recover this amount from the Government.

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Interesting, although it will still be beyond reach of the Malaysian masses; at least for the time being. Consider this: for a medium sized semi-detach or bungalow, typical power requirement is 4kW which means RM100,000 is needed to fund the BIPV systems. Minus say, 50% subsidy/bidding and you still need to pay like RM50,000 upfront for your 20 years of energy consumption. Oppssss!!

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A simple, small PV solar power (not BIPV) used to power up public phones in the interior of Sabah

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Note the 3 units of Mitsubishi Electric solar modules to "collect" power from the sun and transmit it to the inverter.

Deservedly Sabahan Hero

Tambunan: Some 200 residents of Kampung Libang Laut, a half hour's drive from here, have farmer-cum-handyman Hamid Jasmin to thank for now that they can enjoy 24-hour virtually free power supply. The 42-year old Hamid managed to build two working mini hydro power generators at the village that supplied power for 16 households in the village for the past five years.

Something that the Sabah Electricity Board (SESB) could not do in all its years of existence as the State's utility supplier for various reasons. His ingenuity did not go unnoticed when Sirim Berhad and non-governmental organisation World Association Industrial and Technological Research Organisation (Waitro) with the collaboration of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) decided to take Hamid's idea a step further to enable the whole village to enjoy power supply.

In February 2009, the newest mini hydro power system with a capacity of 40kW in the village costing around RM300,000 funded by Waitro was unveiled in a ceremony officiated by Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Rural Development Minister, Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

The heroic work of the humble handyman is so inspiring, I wanted to visit this hydro-electric generator (Hygens) so badly. Earlier, I wrote to TV3 to obtain more information about the mini Hygens at a remote village in Ranau, covered by TV3's Karam Singh but I never really get any help from them. I think the "caring" TV station isn't so caring after all.


Road junction leading to Kg Libang Laut. It is a gravel road all the way, except for short span of tarred section.


Sometime in March 2009 we managed to make some arrangement to visit Kg Libang Laut and we were supposed to meet Mr Hamid and his DIY Hygens. Unfortunately he was not around at that time, but his son and another gentleman were there to show us around and we felt very welcomed by their warm friendship and willingness to answer our every question.

Conceptual diagram of the new hydro power system

Waterwheel of the older Hygens (above), and the second Hygens (below). The single phase generator gives about 180V to 190V of electricity.




The latest mini hydro power system (pic below) with a capacity of 40KW costing around RM300,000 was funded by World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisation (Waitro)




The 4-stage speed control mechanism (pic below) in the newer Hygens is very 'heavy' and could result in much shorter lifespan of the rotating elements. In fact, during our visit some bearings have already worn out. They may want to consider increasing the size of the UCP bearings.


The speed-increasing gears (stage one located outside the building) consist of sprockets and 4-way pulley for final transmission.

Tambunan town (pic) is about 30 minutes from Kg Libang Laut.

Earth Hour 2009

As at 24 March 2009 there are 2,398 cities, towns and municipalities in 83 countries around the world (earthhour website) that have committed to vote-earth for Earth Hour 2009. The vote earth tag is aimed at giving the human race the opportunity to elect between Earth and global warming.

So, what is Earth Hour and what is the significance of this campaign?

It is an annual international event created by the WWF, held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change (Wikipedia).

Alas, for the people residing in Kota Kinabalu or generally in Sabah, the call to switch off their lights for an hour at 8.30pm come March 28 in support of action on global warming may remind the people more of the perennial black-outs rather than the intended awareness campaign itself.

It is like, you are practising this for years and against your will - I am refering to the many incidences of sudden blackouts that sometimes results in going without electricity for hours. In Penampang, it can happen any time. It can be in the form of power dips, multiple power trips of 2 to 3 black-outs and it can sometime go on for hours; so much so that if I were to make complaint using my fixed line telephone, the operator at SESB (Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd) call centre could tell my name by just looking at my caller ID.

I am not calling this call a joke, but in Sabah you can not help but think that way. Sometime you just wonder if it is due to lack of political will, pure case of bad planning on the part of the utility company, or is it true that the government does not have the necessary fund to improve the situation. What is clear is that every now and then politicians come over (and I mean, the big shots from federal level) with pledge to do something, with little or no result to shout about.

Back to the Earth Hour. As one of the considerate and aware citizen, I would participate in this event by switching off a couple of the fluorescent lamps come 28 March. It may not make much difference individually but a synchronised action globally sure will get the message through.

Happy Earth Hour!

Tracking Your Electricity Consumption

In a news release by Reuters on 17th March 2009 (Nao Nakanishi), Google Inc is reported to roll out free software which allows consumers to track their home electricity use and improve energy efficiency very soon.

Google is said to be in talks with utility companies in US, Europe and Asia to make the product available shortly to general consumers. Google Inc would use its software skills for the program that will show home energy consumption in real time on a user's computer or a telephone.

It was mentioned that according to the company, studies showed that by having access to home energy information, one can typically saves between 5% and 15% on monthly electricity bills.

As a tech savvy myself and being familiar with several other tools, this is very much a welcomed development. For a typical household monthly bill of RM250 (moderate estimate for a family with air-conditioners, automatic washing machine, fridge, audio-visual electrical appliances, etc.) one can save up to RM300 annually on electricity bills.

This is not including savings from replacing energy-guzzling equipments as a result of information gained from the usage of the software. It would be very interesting to know if the software would include predictive maintenance of equipments and appliances, including giving users some idea on performance curves, energy consumption projection, cost of replacement, and ROI in the case that one should purchase a greener (energy saving) replacement.

If the domestic consumers can save energy this way, I am convinced the bigger - the industry - consumers can save much more. Based on an integrated study I was involved in on facilities of utility company, it is possible to save energy up to 20% of the monthly bills.