By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, March 14: The new 15-unit housing project in Samariang known as Hainton Residences would be the first innovative smart housing premises that uses the Net Energy Metering (NEM) Scheme in Sarawak.
The project is a collaboration project between Gabungan Binaan Jurutenaga Sdn Bhd and Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) which would be supported by Sarawak Energy Berhad as the implementing agency of the NEM scheme in Sarawak.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi said the new housing project would be equipped with a solar photovoltaic (solar PV) installation that will be connected to the Sarawak Electricity Grid based on the NEM Scheme Guidelines that were introduced by the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication (MUT) in August 2021.
“The NEM scheme is a billing mechanism for solar PV users to generate and export electricity back to the grid based on ‘one-on-one’ offset balancing.
“This means that 1 kilowatt hour (kWh) exported to the grid will be offset by 1 kWh consumed from the grid. This will reduce the consumer’s electricity bill,” he said during the NEM Scheme launching ceremony in Petra Jaya here today.
Julaihi also revealed the solar PV system with cumulative generation of 244 kilowatt-peak (kwp) will be installed in the housing area.
The amount of power that will be exported to the grid is estimated to reach up to 279 thousand kilowatt-hours per year.
The minister also disclosed that MUT has received eight applications from those interested to participate in the NEM scheme. Of this total, two have been approved, three are being processed and the remaining three are still pending further documents from the applicants.
Meanwhile, the price for solar PV system installation ranges from RM5,000 to RM7,000 per kilowatt, depending on the consumer’s proposed capacity.
“If it is based on 3 kWh, the average cost would be RM28,000 more or less,” he stated.
Amongst those present were Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Telecommunication) Datuk Liwan Lagang, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, MUT permanent secretary Jafri Lias, Gabungan Binaan Jurutenaga Sdn Bhd managing director Dr Abang Hatta Abang Taha, and UTS deputy vice chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shahril Osman. — DayakDaily
