By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, April 14: Sarawak is conducting an experiment to harness energy from ocean waves utilising new technology, reveals Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari said currently, the experiment is being conducted in Samalaju waters, about 4 kilometers from the shore.
“This is a new technology and only exist in Shanghai, China. This is a prototype (experiment),” he told reporters when met at former Women, Family and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Rohani Abdul Karim’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Petra Jaya today.
He said the experiment is one of the Sarawak government’s efforts to diversified its green energy production using cascading dams, photovoltaic technology and biomass.
Apart from that, he said, Sarawak is also conducting an experiment to produce energy from water stored inside an elevated tank.
“The experiment is being conducted in Stumbin, Sri Aman, where water from the nearby river is pumped into an elevated tank and released to turn the turbine below which will produce energy.
“The experiment I did was on how many litres of water can be stored in the tank and how much velocity of power is required to turn the turbine, for example for 500KW,” he added.
Abang Johari said if the experiment is successful, it can be scaled up to produce green energy for local consumption.
“Because this is something which is new based on the concept of gravity where anything that goes up must come down. With the water force, we only need to set up the turbine accordingly,” he said. — DayakDaily
