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"Energy Sustainability and Security : Choices and Challenges for Power Supply Industry
25 October 2016
CONTENTS
Overview
The Hydropower Present and Future in Malaysia
The Water Energy Security Challenges
Conclusion
OVERVIEW
Dams and reservoirs are constructed primarily to function as multipurpose
functions including as flood control, drinking water, irrigation, hydropower,
recreation and others functions.
OVERVIEW OF ENERGY IN MALAYSIA
Electricity consumption in Peninsular Malaysia recorded its all time high peak demand of
17,175 MW on March 9, 2016. The previous record in peak demand of 16,901 MW was
registered on June 6, 2014.
It is projected that future sales of electricity will increase by an average of 3.1% per year
(EC, 2014).
How does Hydropower fare in the energy supply?
The implementation of the hydropower projects will reduce the impact of tariff hike as it is
not dependent on the fluctuation global market price of fossil fuel and depletion fossil fuel
resources.
The effort of developing and implementing hydroelectric projects are in line with the
Governments plan to reduce dependency on fossil fuel sources by exploiting the
indigenous / domestic hydropower and renewable energy.
Hydropower plants are capable for peaking demand due to very fast start-up.
Dependence solely on fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas
possess both economic and security risks.
HYDROPOWER PRESENT AND FUTURE
All across Asia, there is a growing need to develop more hydropower to
meet their future energy demands. International Energy Agency (IEA, 2013
b) states that the current trends in energy supply and use are
unsustainable.
The new major hydroelectric plants would have a total estimated capacity of 1,480 MW or
an additional of 44% will be developed and commissioned in stages from 2015 right up to
2024 to add to 1,899 MW capacities already in operation.
Kenyir
Chenderoh
Tenom Pangi
Lower Piah
Ulu Jelai
Odak
Bakun
Habu
Batang Ai
POTENTIAL FUTURE HYDRO POWER IN MALAYSIA
Mini Hydro 30 MW
Kerian 32.4MW
Lebir
270MW
Sg. Pelus 34MW
Tutoh 220MW
Baram 830MW
Belepeh 110MW
Peninsular
Murum 900MW
1,722 MW
Limau 290MW
Metjawah 300MW
Batang Ai (Extension 60MW) Baleh
Ulu Air
1400MW
54 MW
Susu Dam, Ulu Jelai Hydroelectric Project (Downstream view)
Susu Dam, Ulu Jelai Hydroelectric Project (Upstream view)
Sultan Abu Bakar Dam, Cameron Highlands Hydroelectric Project
Puah Dam, Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project
Tembat Dam, Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project
ULU JELAI PUMP STORAGE SCHEME (1050 MW)
THE WATER-ENERGY CHALLENGES
1. Demand for Renewable Energy
Total installed capacity of renewable energy installations globally increased from 800.00 gigawatt (GW)
to 1,712.20 GW at a CAGR of 7.91% between 2004 and 2014.
Growth rates in global renewable energy installed capacity
So is hydropower
Growth in installed
capacity (GW) *CAGR
Fuel type 2004 2014 (%)
Hydropower
Wind power
715.00
48.00
1,055.00
370.00
3.97%
22.66%
development still is
Bioenergy (comprising biogas and biomass)
Geothermal
25.10
8.90
93.00
12.80
13.99%
3.70%
the leading
Solar PV
Solar thermal
2.60
0.40
177.00
4.40
52.51%
27.10% renewable energy
Total 800.00 1,712.20
Source: REN 21 (2015) & Smith Zander International (2016)
7.91%
source?
*CAGR - compound annual growth rate
This aerial view shows houses submerged in floodwaters in Pengkalan Chepa, near Kota Bharu
on Dec. 27, 2014. (AFP PHOTO/MOHD RASFAN). Source: torontosun.com
Peak flood was able to be contained in the new Puah reservoir during December 2014
3. The need for holistic water-energy nexus
The demand for water and energy security on a global scale is predicted to increase greatly in future.
The changes in the hydrological regime including increased variability and more frequent hydrological
extremes (oods and droughts). This will introduce additional uncertainty into water resource
management.
Creating reservoirs would be the only way to capture uneven distribution of water due to the
natural environmental process and especially during floods.
There is also a growing need for thorough use of water resources such as domestic water, irrigation,
industrial water and of course for hydropower. In this context, the need for multipurpose hydropower
development can also be expected creating an engineering challenges.
Policy makers and NGOs, tend to believe that the hydropower plants are detrimental to the protection
of the environment, or unsafe. The possible contribution of hydropower to help balance fluctuations in
electricity supply from wind and solar PV is not always understood.
Source: Adnan A Hezri (2012),
Institute of Strategic and International
Studies Malaysia,
CONCLUSION
Hydropower as renewable energy faces though road
ahead:
There will be continuous pressure from other stakeholders to share the natural
water resource for water supply and irrigation as results of climate change;
There are possibilities that operational conditions for hydropower generation will
be required to be reviewed as an impact from climate change;
Hydropower dam and reservoirs will play an important role in managing extreme
flood and draughts;