By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 19: Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg dreams of a future where instead of refueling at petrol stations, vehicles in Sarawak are powered by water.
He said this futuristic vision, inspired by innovations from tech mogul Elon Musk, could soon become a reality with advancements in hydrogen technology.
Elon Musk, known for championing electric vehicles, is reportedly exploring the potential of hydrogen-powered cars. The idea involves equipping vehicles with a micro-electrolyser attached to the engine block.
This device would extract hydrogen from water, which would then power the vehicle’s motor through a fuel cell, eliminating the need for traditional refueling.
“In other words, you can imagine one day we don’t go to petrol stations to fill your car but rather you will go to a water station because you use water in your tank and that water will generate and propel or power your car.
“Thus, what we can do later is draw water from Sarawak rivers and all the stations will be there.
“This could be something imaginary but it can happen once the energy has migrated from fossil fuel to renewable energy,” he said when delivering his keynote speech at RAM Conference Sarawak 2024 at Sheraton Hotel Kuching here today.
Despite skepticism surrounding the cost of hydrogen production and electrolysers, Abang Johari likened the scenario to the evolution of solar energy.
“Solar panels were initially very expensive, but today, their cost has dropped to just 20 per cent of the original, and their efficiency has improved so significantly that the capacity to store the solar power has increased and you perhaps don’t need batteries,” he added.
The progress in renewable energy storage, including long-life batteries, further strengthens the case for hydrogen as a viable fuel source.
Sarawak’s ongoing investments in hydrogen infrastructure and renewable energy signal its readiness to embrace this futuristic vision, potentially positioning the State as a leader in clean energy innovations.
