KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has underscored fusion energy as the next frontier in the world’s transition towards sustainable energy, describing it as a safer alternative to nuclear power and a critical solution to climate change.
He said that the latest technological developments in the United States show that fusion energy – derived from hydrogen atoms, deuterium and tritium – could produce immense heat and power, creating a breakthrough source of renewable energy.
“This fusion energy comes from the atom in hydrogen called deuterium together with tritium.
“Their reaction produces heat and power. There you are – you have another source of energy,” he said.
He said this in his keynote session during the officiating ceremony of the ‘Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum’ (SAREF 4.0), powered by Sarawak Energy, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
He said that the world urgently needs an energy alternative to fossil fuels, which remain the main source of carbon emissions driving climate change.
Sarawak, he said, is turning to nature-based solutions combined with advanced technology to meet this challenge.
“We are blessed – we have water, sunlight and biomass. These are all nature-based solutions that can provide alternatives to fossil fuels.
“From water, we produce hydropower. Through water electrolysis, we generate hydrogen. From sunlight, we harness solar energy. The resources are there. The only missing link is technology – and that is where research must continue,” he said.
He said that renewable energy must be developed within the framework of sustainability, allowing economies to grow without harming the environment.
Abang Johari also pointed to the success of the Sarawak Energy’s Batang Ai Floating Solar Farm, the largest in Malaysia, which was connected to the power grid just half a year ago.
Covering only about six per cent of the reservoir’s surface, the project already produces 50 megawatts of power, helping to mitigate around 50,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
“This is one of the approaches that we have to adopt. And you can spread it out by producing this green energy to propel your economic growth. As I said, without jeopardising the environment, and the world should be looking into this strategy.
“If you were to mitigate carbon emissions, because carbon, as you know, comes from construction, from cement, from automobiles, all that. And this has to be replaced by green energy. And if we are able to find nature-based solutions, at least you can, to a certain extent, help to solve the climate change issue,” said Abang Johari.
