Study wind, waves as renewable power source

KOTA KINABALU: Study is being conducted on the potential of harvesting energy from wind and waves for electricity generation in Sabah.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili said the study on wind potential was being carried out jointly by Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) and Sirim.

“Seda, in collaboration with Sirim, has set up a small station at Simpang Mangayau, Kudat to monitor and study wind potential.

“Seda has also commissioned an overall mapping of wind speed and consistency in all areas in Sabah, which was done jointly by Sirim and a university,” he told reporters after officiating at the opening of Seda branch office here yesterday.

According to Ongkili, studies by the Meteorology Department showed that the potential for wind harvesting in Malaysia was generally on the low end.

He explained existing conventional technologies required a minimum of two metres per second (mps) wind to efficiently generate electricity.

In this regard, there are only three places with potential in Sabah, namely Kudat, around Mount Kinabalu and somewhere near Sipitang.

He said technologies were improving and some developers believed even 0.8mps wind could be harvested for electricity.