KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has the best solar potential in Malaysia but needs better technology to ensure stability of the power grid, said Assistant Minister to Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan.
Based on the Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER), about 99,400 MW can be tapped from solar panel installed on 1,887 sq km of undeveloped land area, or around 2.6 per cent, of Sabah's land area.
In practical terms, if for example, just 1 per cent of 1,887 sq km is developed into solar farms, about 1,000 MW can be generated.
However, the capacity of solar energy that can be connected and distributed to the grid was limited to 22 per cent to ensure the stability, as such energy relied on sunlight conditions, Nizam said.
"However, the capacity of solar energy delivered to the Sabah electricity grid can be increased when energy storage systems mature and are integrated with solar energy technology," he said at the state assembly sitting.
Nominated assemblyman Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee had asked about the current production of solar energy and how much energy the state needed from this source.
At present, solar energy capacity in Sabah is at 84MW, which are the 50 MW large-scale solar project in Kudat and 34MW through the feed-in tariff with photovoltaic cells, he said.
The Apas assemblyman said solar projects with a combined capacity were expected to be ready next year.
Among them are in Beaufort with a capacity of 6MW; Kunak with 5MW; two in Sandakan with 20M; three in Tawau with 16 MW; two in Labuan with 15 MW.
Nizam said the state government, through the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), would assume the regulatory power over electricity supply, including renewable energy from the federal government by the end of this year.
"It will also evaluate the implementation of offgrid solar energy projects, such as self-generation/consumption and dedicated supply to industrial estates and other similar initiatives."