KOTA KINABALU: The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) has been conducting a feasibility study on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), which is a revolutionary renewable energy technology.
The study aims to assess the viability of harnessing the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater to generate clean energy, potentially placing Sabah at the forefront of sustainable energy development in Malaysia.
OTEC is an innovative technology that converts the thermal energy in the ocean into electricity.
An enactment for the technology was recently passed by the state legislative assembly sitting in April.
ECoS chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said Sabah is surrounded by vast oceans, making it the ideal location for this technology.
"During a recent meeting of the Sabah Energy Council chaired by the Chief Minister, ECoS awarded three local Malaysian companies the task of conducting feasibility studies for OTEC.
"These companies will work on exploring the practical implementation of the technology in various locations around Sabah.
"The feasibility study is the first step towards turning this ambitious project into a reality.
"After that, we might embark on a small-scale pilot project, which would later be expanded into a large commercial endeavour," he said, adding the commission is giving the companies two years to complete their assessments. The full implementation of OTEC in Sabah could take up to five years.
Abdul Nasser was speaking to reporters after launching two online applications, the ECoS Energy Information System (EEISy) and Talk2ECoS at a hotel here.
The primary area of focus for the feasibility study is the waters near Tawau and Semporna, about 30 kilometres offshore.
"This location offers the best potential for OTEC development due to its proximity to the shore and the favourable ocean conditions," Abdul Nasser said, adding there is potential for OTEC development on the west coast of Sabah, though these areas are farther from the shore and may present bigger logistical challenges.