Rebalancing transport energy use – a 30-year target

THE 2015 National Energy Balance shows that the transport sector uses 23,435 ktoe (kilotonne oil equivalent) of final energy demand. It is about 45.24% of total final energy demand compared to other sectors such as industrial (13,989 ktoe), agriculture (895 ktoe), non-energy (5,928 ktoe) as well as residential and commercial (7,559 ktoe).

Usage of every unit of ktoe energy by giving more output will increase the efficiency of energy utilisation. Again, static and dynamic efficiency play an important role to achieve higher efficiency in transport sector energy use.

Operational cost reduction or fuel cost reduction is an immediate achievement in improving fuel efficiency for vehicles and public transport. In addition to that, reduction of pollution loading from transport sector can also be achieved.

When the government took our suggestion to improve fuel type quality from Euro 2M to Euro 4 and above, it assisted in reducing pollution loading substantially. Euro 5 for diesel is targeted to be fully achieved by 2020 only, we hope this timeline can be reduced, so that the positive environmental benefit can be achieved faster.

Malaysia needs to set a 20% final energy use target for the transport sector within a 30-year time frame. Public transport takes time to mature as it is capital intensive.

For short-term (five years) and mid-term strategy (15 years), mandatory energy efficiency labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) in transport sector will be able to assist Malaysia towards better energy utilisation. These are part of static efficiency strategy or the use of legislation to achieve efficiency.

What should we be doing in the next five to 15 years?

Firstly, we need to set MEPS. Vehicles that perform lower than the MEPS limit should not be allowed to be sold in the Malaysian market. This will prevent domestic and commercial consumers from purchasing a vehicle that is going to cost them more in fuel consumption.

Secondly, we need to set Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling for vehicles (commercial and non-commercial use). The labelling scheme will measure efficiency based on x litre for every 100km.

A rating scheme can be adopted similar to five stars rating for electrical equipment. Via better representation of data that are measured using available standard, we can assist Malaysia reduce high energy use in the transport sector. A five-year mandatory review period must also be set to ensure MEPS and labelling scheme is successful. This will allow our agencies to upgrade its rating to enable Malaysians purchase more efficient vehicles and reduce high energy cost.

For transport related businesses, efficient vehicle means more miles with lesser fuel. It will help reduce fuel cost burden to operation. Similar impact can also be seen for domestic users. Within the 30-year time frame, improvement of public transport infrastructure will also assist commuters to reduce dependency on personal vehicle usage.

Based on AWER’s National Energy Security Survey, only 4.17% of Malaysians use public transport daily, 24.75% use it few times a week, 51.64% rarely use public transport and 19.43% do not use public transport at all. Asked if they will take the public transport frequently if its services were improved, 52.78% said they would. Behaviour change is part of dynamic efficiency.

Are we ready to put energy to better use?

This article was contributed by Piarapakaran S, president of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, a non-government organisation involved in research and development in the fields of water, energy and environment.