Sarawak looking into lightweight turbine blades to harvest wind energy

From sixth left: Uggah, Abang Johari, and Morshidi with others during the cake cutting ceremony at the DBOS 5th Anniversary dinner on Oct 29, 2022. Photo credit: JaPen Sarawak

By Nur Ashikin Louis

KUCHING, Oct 29: Sarawak is looking to add wind energy to its renewable resources as it is currently experimenting with a new innovation using lightweight turbine blades to harvest wind power.

Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said there is a new technology where special composite material, which is light in weight, has been invented to make the blade of the wind turbine.

“Because the material is light, they just need a light wind to blow, turn the blade, and turn the turbine.

“This is being done (by the Sarawak government) together with Shell (Sarawak Shell Berhad). And if this is successful, we will have another energy source where we can have offshore wind along the coast of Sarawak that will be connected to our grid,” he said when gracing the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) 5th Anniversary dinner broadcast live by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) earlier tonight.

This wind energy, if successful, will be a new addition to Sarawak’s renewable energy resources alongside water, hydrogen, and floating solar.

He also said the Sarawak government is working on microalgae production to produce biofuel, which will become the basis for making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

“That (algae) can be developed along our coastal areas. With our coastal road as access to this area, perhaps we can produce microalgae and thereby we can produce biofuel,” he emphasised.

Amongst those present were the Premier’s wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas; Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Sarawak Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; DBOS chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; and DBOS chief executive officer Datu Laura Lee Ngien Hion. — DayakDaily