KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) is determined to promote co-generation, also known as combined heat & power (CHP), to achieve national energy efficiency target.
MGA president Hazli Sham Kassim said the significant increase in efficiency makes co-generation a key and integral contributor in achieving the national targets of achieving 8 per cent savings in energy efficiency (EE) by 2025 and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45 per cent by 2030.
"MGA has been proactively taking part in engagements and dialogues with stakeholders to promote and advocate for the greater adoption of co-generation in the country.
"In order to make MGA well-positioned to continue to advocate for the greater adoption of co-generation in the country, MGA participates in several national-level committees including the drafting committee for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EECA), expected to be tabled in Parliament next year,” Hazli said at the Benefits and Awareness of Cogeneration workshop here.
CHP is an efficient and cleaner way of generating electric power and thermal energy from a single fuel source.
The engine drives the generator, producing electricity, and the residual heat created during this process is recaptured and turned into useful heat, such as heating, cooling or steam.
Co-generation has a proven track record of achieving RM1.4 million savings per year based on 1 megawatt of electricity generated.
The workshop was attended by more than 70 companies and organisations including from building and commercial sectors to overview the benefits of co-generation technology and applicability in various industries and how significant cost savings can be achieved.
Hazli said MGA also face many challenges in order to further expand the adoption of co-generation.
"To move forward, we call for the development of a comprehensive policy that should be designed to facilitate and expand utilisation of co-generation in this country, to address any barrier hampering its progress and accord the necessary incentives to stimulate its growth,” he said.
MGA will continue to promote greater adoption of co-generation through engagements and awareness programs including a forum on co-generation to be held on October 1 as a platform for industry players to deliberate issues relating to co-generation.