By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 28: The Sarawak government is actively considering the implementation of a Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) system as a critical element of its energy strategy, aiming to achieve 10 gigawatts (GW) of energy by 2030.
PHES works by utilising gravity to generate electricity, releasing water from an upper reservoir to a lower one, providing power to the grid as needed.
As part of Sarawak’s efforts to expand renewable energy capacity, the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT), together with Sarawak Energy, is leading studies and engagements focused on Cascading Power Sources (CPS) with a visit to the Snowy Hydro Tumut 3 facility in New South Wales, Australia, on Tuesday (Aug 27), as a key step in evaluating the feasibility of PHES for Sarawak.
According to a media release, the delegation, led by Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, received briefings on Tumut 3, Australia’s first major pumped-hydro plant and its largest to date. This facility recycles water between the Talbingo Reservoir and Jounama Pondage, both for generation and pumping purposes.
The Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, of which Tumut 3 is a pivotal part, comprises eight hydro power stations, including two underground. Equipped with 33 turbines, the scheme has a total generating capacity of 4,100 megawatts (MW), producing an average of 4,500 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity annually.
The Sarawak delegation also toured the Talbingo Dam, the upper reservoir of Tumut 3, which plays a vital role in electricity generation and water management.
The study visit, facilitated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through its Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) initiative, aimed to provide insights into Australia’s energy transition efforts and the development of technologies like PHES.
The mission, which began on August 26, included an engagement session between the Sarawak delegation and representatives from DFAT, P4I, and the Australian National University in Canberra.
These discussions centered on the technical, market, and regulatory frameworks essential for PHES projects, which Sarawak is considering as part of its energy strategy.
MUT and Sarawak Energy are also conducting working visits to other regions where similar projects have been successfully implemented, such as in Austria.
They are committed to engaging with local communities during their feasibility studies on CPS and PHES, ensuring that these communities are actively involved in Sarawak’s renewable energy development.
The Sarawak delegation included Deputy Permanent Secretary and director of Electricity Supply for MUT Syed Mohamad Fauzi Shahab, Group chief operating officer of Sarawak Energy Ir James Ung, SEB Power CEO Ir Bunyak Lunyong, and Sarawak Energy’s senior vice president for Business Development Nick James Arnett Wright. — DayakDaily
