Research on using hydrogen, fuel cell as energy
KUCHING: A feasibility study on hydrogen and fuel cell applications will be conducted to explore the commercial and public application of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the study, which will be spearheaded by Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), will form an integral part of the state government’s new emphasis to develop the state, leveraging on research and development towards achieving its 2030 vision.
“The state government, under my direction, is forming a Research Council to oversee various sectors including technology. One primary area of focus will be in energy related areas such as alternative energy potential, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells research.
“SEB’s findings and recommendations from the study will be shared with the council and this will guide us in further decision making in regards to the adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technology,” he told a press conference at Menara Sarawak Energy here yesterday.
With abundant clean hydroelectric power resources, Abang Johari said the state provides an ideal setting for enabling hydrogen economy in view of impending global demand for hydrogen as an energy source in the near future.
“It is hoped that hydrogen could be the primary fuel of choice for areas such as the transportation sector and energy storage as the technology matures and becomes commercially attractive in the future,” he remarked.
He pointed out that the state is very fortunate to have water, the main raw material to produce hydrogen through electrolysis, in abundance.
“In other countries, when they market salt water, they have to go through desalination, a process which will cause the production of hydrogen to be more expensive.
“For us, producing hydrogen will be a straight process and the water can even be sourced from our dams particularly during low usage when we can convert the water to hydrogen and storing them,” he explained, adding that since hydrogen can be liquefied, it can be stored and then exported to buyers.
With SEB entrusted to spearhead the study, Abang Johari pointed out that SEB has since formed a team and will set aside RM5 million to conduct the research.
Asked if there was a time frame for SEB to come up with results from the study, he believed that it can be done within the next three to four years.
“The technology is there already. Right now, it’s the question of calculating what the cost will be like to produce, for instance, 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen.
“Once we got the calculation done, it’s just a matter of setting up the plant,” he said.