Sarawak Energy: Baleh HEP to be commissioned by 2027, 5 pct solar energy added into generation mix by 2030

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By Lian Cheng and Christopher Lidom

KUCHING, Feb 21: By 2030, Sarawak Energy Berhad (Sarawak Energy) plans to add approximately five per cent solar energy into its generation mix.

This was revealed by its Group CEO Datu Sharbini Suhaili, who said harvesting solar energy is one of its initiatives moving forward.

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Renewable hydropower, he said, will continue to be an important capital for a sustainable energy future. At the same time, Sarawak Energy aims to increase the share of renewable and alternative energy in its generation mix. 

“The 1,285MW Baleh Hydroelectric Project (Baleh HEP) is progressing and is expected to come on stream by 2027.

“We are also embarking on our first floating solar farm at the 108MW Batang Ai Hydropower Plant — leveraging on the reservoir’s existing body of water to do so. Once commissioned, the 50MW solar farm will offset around 52 kilotonnes of carbon emissions annually — further decarbonising Sarawak’s power system,” said Sharbini during Sarawak Energy Centenary Celebration held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.

He said with renewable energy identified as a key enabler, Sarawak Energy’s efforts are focused on maintaining a 60 per cent renewable energy capacity mix by 2030. 

Another focus will be on reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 600k tons per annum through electric vehicles or EVs, apart from the focus on achieving more than 15 per cent income from foreign markets in line with its Southeast Asia renewable energy powerhouse ambitions. 

These targets, Sharbini said, are supported by five initiatives, including increasing private sector participation in solar, mini-hydro, oil palm and biomass projects; stimulating Sarawak’s hydrogen economy via exports, with Sarawak serving as the hub for the hydrogen value chain; promoting net metering for domestic, commercial and industrial energy generation;  enhancing power export to increase interconnectivity within the region and encouraging EV usage to reduce carbon emissions and decarbonise the transportation sector. — DayakDaily