Bright plans for the future
Tenaga Nasional Berhad shares its plans in the energy field.
MALAYSIA’s dependency on non- renewable energy sources is about to change with the introduction of floating photovoltaic systems.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad green technology researcher Mohd Razwan Rusli believes that the country’s renewable energy source can be extended with the floating photovoltaic system ( FPS), which harnesses power from the sun and is closer to transforming power markets than conventional systems.
Instead of taking up precious land spaces, the FPS can be implemented on existing water bodies – lakes, reservoir, ponds – and TNB has identified 78 major lakes across Peninsular Malaysia suitable for this purpose.
“These lakes have a combined surface area of 1,001.9sqkm and we can generate 8.4 terawatt- hours of electricity by using just 10% of the total surface area of the floating photovoltaic systems,” said Mohd Razwan at the recent TNB Media Familiarisation Visit in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
Having pioneered FPS projects due to land shortage, Japan leads the way in this field.
In 2013, a 1.2MW floating installation was set up in Okegawa and a 13.4MW floating photovoltaic project is currently underway at the Yamakura Dam.
When completed in March 2016, it will cover 180,000sq m, hold 50,000 photovoltaic solar panels, and power nearly 5,000 households in the Chiba prefecture. It is also estimated to offset nearly 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions yearly.
Other countries that have implemented the FPS are the United States and South Korea, and plans for the project have been announced in Britain, Australia, India and Italy.
Full steam ahead
A RM3.9mil pilot project by TNB and Malaysian Electricity Supply Industries Trust Account is underway at a water treatment plant in Sungai Labu, Sepang.
“The pilot project started in March and is expected to be completed in November next year,” said Mohd Razwan.
So, why opt for FPS instead of just building these systems on land?
“Placing the solar panels on water bodies frees up land for agricultural use, conservation or other development. More importantly, we don’t have to clear land to make space for the systems,” he added.
The cooling effect of the water on both the panels and the electrical equipment is also beneficial as it is expected to yield higher power output than conventional solar power installations.
“One of the biggest problems faced by a typical solar panel is the loss of 0.41% power for every 1° C increase in temperature.
“The solar panel in a conventional power system across a tropical region like Malaysia can reach temperatures of 60° C- 70° C on a hot day, which can reduce the photovoltaic system’s power output between 14% and 24%,” explained Mohd Razwan.
A study conducted in South Korea
and presented at CES- CUBE 2013 titled Empirical Research On The Efficiency Of Floating Photovoltaic Systems Compared With Overland PV Systems which compares two floating photovoltaic plants – of 100kWP and 500kWp each with equivalent respective ground mounted photovoltaic systems – reported that daily average generation of the FPS plants were approximately 10% higher compared to the land based systems.
Mohd Razwan also added that the implementation of the photovoltaic systems on water bodies will minimise water evaporation by lowering the water temperature and reducing the size of water area exposed to air.
“There is also the potential reduction in algae growth due to reduced sunlight penetration,” he added.
And as there is no excavation work, Mohd Razwan said that the implementation has little to no impact on existing ecosystems.
“Although this source of renewable energy needs a high initial capital, the maintenance cost is very minimal. The system could also be installed in homes with the option of selling it back to utility companies such as TNB,” added Mohd Razwan.
Also discussed at the media briefing was TNB’s RM32mil joint venture project with Malacca to erect monopole towers with beaming lights for aviation and marine navigational guides across the Straits of Malacca.
Power supply will be transmitted via a high voltage overhead transmission line involving 12 monopole towers from the main-
land of Pantai Siring in Merlimau, crossing a 4.2km stretch of the Straits of Malacca to Pulau Besar.
The project, jointly developed by TNB and the Malacca State Development Corporation ( PKNM), will provide a 24- hour power supply to the island, supplying electricity of about 2MW for the first phase and maximum capacity of 5MW.
“The current demand in Pulau Besar is 3MW and is expected to reach 6MW by 2020,” said TNB Transmission Division Asset Development Department ( Central Region), senior manager ( Overhead Lines) Mohamad Halil Haron.
The transmission line is designed to be upgraded to 33kV and 132kV without changing the towers.
TNB researcher Aisah Md Shukor also presented her paper titled Wildlife Research And Conservation For Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project. The Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project ( HTHEP) is located on the upper reaches of Sungai Terengganu, and encompasses Puah Dam ( main dam) and Tembat Dam.
Minimising the impact
“A Wildlife Rescue Plan was prepared as a compliance to the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment’s approval condition of the project, and implemented in the
Environmental Management Plan,” said Aisah.
The report – with Department of Wildlife and National Parks’ ( Perhilitan) endorsement – was forwarded to Terengganu’s Department of Environment for record and reference, and implemented before and after the impoundment, as part of the process in development of the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project.
“At the same time, scientific studies are undertaken to study the effects of construction and impoundment activities on the community, population and migration of animals species including small, medium and large mammals, amphibians and reptiles,” added Aisah.
Elephant, tiger, tapir, sunbear and leaf monkey activities have been noted in the surrounding areas.
The objectives of the Wildlife Rescue Plan ( WRP) are to ensure the wildlife within the catchment areas can be protected – whether trapped, displaced or wildlife in conflict due to the construction of dam are to be saved; to enforce the Wildlife Act 2010 during construction of the dam; to ensure human safety and to ensure the success of the wildlife rescue operations.
The seven- stage WRP is currently underway, with one of the crucial elements already implemented – the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Said Aisah: “The main function of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is to provide professional care to sick, injured and orphaned wild animals during impoundment before they are released to their natural habitat or at the Sungai Deka Wildlife Protection Forest.”