Rooftop solar under the FIT in Sabah - your commitment starts at RM722 per month

One of the earlier service providers and system integrators in Sabah has kick-started their campaign as soon as the FiT mechanism for renewable energy is implemented here.

They held a mini roadshow at Suria Sabah shopping mall earlier this month, followed by a workshop at one of the better known hotel in Kota Kinabalu. I visited their booth but did not attend the workshop.

"Turn the sunlight into cash". Possible if you are willing to invest.

Their brochure illustrates the following investment and income generated from the venture. In this case, it is Solar PV installed on rooftop, with FiT at prevailing rate.

System size	Price (RM)	Financing  Tenure	Monthly Repayment (RM)	Monthly    Income (RM)
12.00 kW	112,000	10 years	1,264.72	1,545.78
9.60 kW	82,800	10 years	1,038.88	1,236.62
7.80 kW	68,400	10 years	858.20	1,004.75
6.60 kW	57,600	10 years	722.70	850.18

From the table, we can work out the estimated income as follows (taking a 6.6kW solar PV as an example):

A solar PV system size of 6.6kW would cost RM57,000 and you would need to come out with 10% down payment. 10 years financing is available and your monthly commitment with the financing bank is RM722.70 and your projected monthly income would be RM850.18 (approximately). Minus the loan repayment, you'd still have a cash surplus of RM127.48

This means that the investment is self-financing and at the end of the 10-year tenure, the generated RM850 is all yours. Good enough to pay up the electricity, telephone and water bills.

In a nutshell, the contract allows you to sell the electricity generated from your rooftop to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) at a much higher price (actual rate to be known during the application process) for a period of 21 years.

This is not an advertisement and therefore, no contact numbers are given. I have their numbers and the name of the persons to contact should anyone is interested.

TheGreenMechanics: This is just one quotation/projection from a single solar PV service provider. Let's hope more service providers come up with more competitive pricing as prices of solar panels continue to drop.

Malaysia targets to achieve 11% Renewal Energy usage by 2020

By 2020, we are targeting to achieve high income nation status.

And by 2020, for every 10 units of energy that we used, 1 unit must come from renewable sources such as solar, wind, biogas, geothermal, biomass, etc. 11% is about okay? I think, with some 'help' from the fossil fuel sector, we can achieve more than that; a 15% should be more like it.

Some of the renewable energy sources. Image credit: PNOC

11 percent Renewable Energy usage

Malaysian Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry recently unveiled its target of achieving 11% renewable energy usage by individual consumers and the industrial sector by 2020.

Currently the ministry estimates the usage of renewable energy generated by solar, biogas and biomass in the country to be 1.5% and hoped this percentage could be increased every year.

To purchase solar panels and install the system, consumers can apply for loans at the participating banks and the government will bear 2% of the loan interest. This is according to the ministry's deputy minister, Mahdzir Khalid.

To date the country had used only 862.4 megawatts (MW) of the renewable energy, not including hydropower which contributed 3,281MW.

The implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) system in December 2012 saw demand from the community, that is, 2,760 applications received for the production of renewable energy with a quota of 536MW.

To increase the level of effectiveness and efficiency of the FiT system, the ministry plans to introduce other mechanisms including more competitive bidding and renewable portfolio standard.


TheGreenMechanics: 

Regarding this 'more competitive bidding' thing.

During one of the New Electricity Tariff Roadshows by SESB which was attended by SEDA recently, I asked what sort of mechanism SEDA is applying to acknowledge the interest of bidders who are un-successful in their bid but keep bidding. Aren't they supposed to be getting some 'priority' now when the next RE quota become available?

The presenter, a CCO at SEDA answered that, it is an interesting question; they recognised it and they are working around the issue so that genuine bidders will eventually get their quota.

I hope so.

Source: Bernama

Price of LED light bulbs in Sabah

LED lighting was once considered luxury, simply because the cost to purchase a single LED light bulb can buy you 50 to 60 pieces of incandescent light bulbs of the equivalent lumen (loosely translated as brightness of the bulb).

They are still 'luxury' bulbs today, but prices are dropping fast as more manufacturers are producing better and improved versions. Cree, Philips, Osram, Panasonic, GE, and many lesser known brands are starting to flood the market, which is actually good for the consumers.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are the energy saving lamps that did very well in replacing the energy-hungry incandescent lamps as well as the 36W/18W fluorescent lamps in the homes of many.


Philips 24W CFL (equavalent to 125W) was selling for RM21 last year.


The price of CFLs has dropped to almost 50% in the last 2 years. Re-sellers are now offering 25W bulbs (equivalent to 150W) at as low as RM12.50 and other outlets are offering RM20.90 for a pair of 23W CFL. Quite a good deal as it cost you only RM10.45/pc.



Panasonic's 19W CFL (equivalent to 100W) is now available at RM9.50



I bought quite a number of these recently.


Of course there is downside to using CFLs: there is a small amount of mercury in each bulb you purchase. Disposal of spent bulbs would be an issue, not to mention the accidental breakage that would definitely expose you to the dangerous mercury fume.


LED bulbs - safer, more environmentally friendly
With LED bulbs this is a non-issue. No toxic gas, no heat and they last much, much longer than CFLs and incandescent lamps. 

So, how much is an LED light bulb? Well prices vary but one thing is for sure - they are dropping and many average guys would be able to afford them now.

For a start, towards the end of last year, Cree introduced a 75W equivalent LED bulb for US$24.00 (around RM77.00) which is pretty steep.


LED lamps compared with the soon-to-be-banned incandescent lamps:
Saving per year per lamp = 23 kWh (quoting Panasonic)
Saving with 10 similar lamps = 230 kWh,
or RM42.55 / year         - assuming you use not more than 200kWh of electricity monthly.
or RM75.90 / year  - assuming you consume more energy, hence the higher tariff bracket (RM0.33/kWh)



Earlier on, LED bulbs don't seem to be that affordable. This MiNT LED bulb is an example.

7.8W LED bulbs: RM49.90/ pc (Parkson Kota Kinabalu) - as at August 2013



During PC fair at 1Borneo in Novermer 2013, ACI Technology was selling this Panasonic LED bulbs at:
LED 8W (equivalent to 60W incandescent)  = RM35.90/ pc
LED 10E (equivalent to 75W incandescent) = RM40.90

Slightly lower than the one at Parkson.


Recently, I checked and found that they are sold cheaper albeit a lower wattage and lumens.
OSRAM LED 5W bulb = RM29.90/ pc


TheGreenMechanics: Fancy this - Panasonic claimed that their LED bulbs can last up to 40 years before they need to be replaced. What? Are you kidding me? I'd be happy if mine can last 10 years.

Do you think you can find lower priced LED bulbs near you? Please share with us in the comment section.