CHAPTER 1

Introduction to Renewable
Energy

INTRODUCTION TO
RENEWABLE ENERGY (RE)

Definition:
RE

is energy which comes from natural

resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides
and geothermal heat, which are renewable
(naturally replenished).
RE resource can be defined as energy that
occurs naturally in a cycle manner that is
replaceable faster than or equal to the rate
it is consumed.

BENEFIT OF RE
RESOURCES
1.

2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

To fight against climate change - environmental pollution,

emission of hazardous gasses eg. Greenhouse Gasses
(GHG), global warming, depleting ozone layer, increase
earth temperature.
To meet the Kyoto Protocol targets more quickly.
Helps reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Follow global energy situation and demand carbon
free energy sources demand will go up in the
coming years.
To enhance energy security against energy crisis.
Increase standard of living especially those in
remote area
Create local employment and local economic
activity- job creation, people spend money
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WHY RENEWABLE ENERGY

IN MALAYSIA?
It

is unlikely that domestic oil and

gas
production
will
grow
substantially beyond current levels,
as the oil and gas discoveries from
the mature basins are, on average,
smaller than in the past.

Oil

and gas production in

Malaysia is likely to decline by 1
to 2% per year on average in
the coming decade.

Malaysia

is going to need more

energy
as
the
economy
continues to grow: 6 GW of new
generation capacity is expected
to be needed by 2020.
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 The

power sector faces a major

challenge
as
declining
gas
production will have an impact on
the power generation industry.
Currently, 58% of powergeneration
in Malaysia is based on natural gas,
with the remainder coming from
coal (37%) and hydro (5%).
Malaysia is among the countries
with the fasted growing carbon
emissions!
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TARGET OF RE IN MALAYSIA
(2015)

Energy in 2012

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CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING
REN IN MALAYSIA
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cost cost of power generation is still high

because almost all technologies are imported.
Suitable site not all sites are suitable for REN.
Wind required adequate wind speed.
Microhydro required continuous water flow.
Biomass required continuous supply.
Human resources lack of skill worked in this
area.
Not sure of feasibility and sustainability of the
RE sources making investment restricted.

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CLASSIFICATION OF ENERGY
RESOURCES

12

CLASSIFICATION OF
ENERGY RESOUCES
1.

2.
I.

Direct - direct use of solar energy to achieve an outcome or

work done.
Direct use of solar energy can be classified
Passive

Passive solar energy can be exploited through green design involved such
as engineering, building physic, interior design, architectural design, as by
positioning windows to allow sunlight to enter and help heat a space.

Example : Ancient people used passive solar energy systems by building

their houses out of stone or clay, which absorbed the suns heat during the
day and stayed warm after dark, providing heat throughout the night.

Example : Builders today use similar methods for passively capturing solar
energy. For example, they construct houses with large double- or triple-pane
windows that get direct sunlight to capture and magnify the suns warmth.
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II. Active
Active

solar energy involves the conversion of sunlight to

electrical energy, especially in solar (photovoltaic) cells.

Example:

use the same principles as passive systems except

that they use a fluid (such as water) to absorb the heat. A
solar collector positioned on the roofs of buildings heats the
fluid and then pumps it through a system of pipes to heat the
whole building.

Example:

direct conversion of light into electricity

(Photovoltaic cell convert energy of sunlight into electricity)

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1. Indirect -indirect use of solar energy to achieve

an outcome or work done
2.Indirect use of solar energy can be classified
I. Fossil based technologies
a) Coal
coal-fired electricity generation is a five-step
process: Thermal coal (either black or brown) that
has been pulverised to a fine powder is burned. The
resulting heat is used to turn water into steam. The
steam at very high pressure is then used to spin a
turbine, connected to an electrical generator.
They are combusted to produce heat, power or
processed to produce other product
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COAL-FIRED PLANT

16

Natural Gas - flammable gas,

consisting largely of methane and
other
hydrocarbons,
occurring
naturally underground (often in
association with petroleum) and used
as fuel. There are 21 Gas-fired Power
plant in Malaysia (Selangor Gas-fired
plant
-Connaught Bridge Power Station,
Genting Sanyen
Kuala Langat Power Plant, Putrajaya
Power Station)
b)

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c) Oil - a viscous liquid derived from

petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or
lubricant. They are combusted to produce
heat, power or processed to produce other
product. There are 5 Gas-fired Power plant
in Malaysia (eg.Penang- Gelugor Power
Station (TNB))

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II. Non-fossil based Technologies

1. Biomass
2. Geothermal
3. Hydropower
4. Wave
5. Wind
.(Refer to PDF file (i) Chapter 1-Picture and (ii)
advantages and issues of RE- all in I-learn)

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 Example

Wind

Wind

Turbine
Wind Turbine at the sea

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