In the wake of recent electricity tariff adjustments, experts assert that Malaysia should leverage solar energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and achieve its climate change objectives.
Dr. Shahino Mah Abdullah, a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), highlights the potential for Malaysia to substantially increase solar energy utilization, considering the country’s abundant sunshine throughout the year. Despite this, the percentage of electricity generated from solar sources remains relatively low.
Malaysia predominantly relies on a mix of coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity generation, as reported by the International Energy Agency. Dr. Shahino emphasizes the importance of expanding solar energy production, citing its cleanliness, renewability, and the decreasing costs in the solar panel manufacturing sector.
Following electricity tariff hikes by Tenaga Nasional, especially for larger companies and energy-intensive households, Dr. Shahino advocates for the expansion of programs like Net-Energy Metering. This initiative allows surplus solar energy generated by solar systems to be redirected to the grid, reducing monthly electricity bills and contributing to the national goal of zero emissions by 2020.
Dr. Jasrul Jamani Jamian, an Associate Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the role of photovoltaic solar panel installations in reducing energy consumption and mitigating the impact of Imbalance Cost Pass Through (ICPT) on consumers. He notes the significant decrease in prices over the past decade, making solar energy solutions more accessible.
These experts urge the Malaysian government to embrace solar energy initiatives, not only for environmental sustainability but also as a practical response to the evolving energy landscape.