KUCHING: Sarawak’s commitment to green and renewable energy initiatives is setting the stage for a promising future.
In stating this, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg shed light on the potential reduction in electricity requirements for hydrogen production, yielding a reduced overall production cost.
“To produce 1kg of hydrogen, you need 60 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. And the research undertaken by Sarawak government and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) found out with the new membrane technology, it only needs 38kWh of power to produce 1kg of hydrogen.
“And last week, I read in a journal that they are only using 15kWh to produce 1kg of hydrogen. If that is the case, the production of hydrogen will be cheaper.
“Once it is cheap, there’s a possibility that the scientist may produce a compact electrolyser that can be cheaper, so the production of hydrogen will be cheaper,” he said.
He said during the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak branch annual dinner at Imperial Hotel last night (Nov 10).
Abang Johari, who is also the Minister of Natural Resource and Urban Development then said apart from venturing into green hydrogen, the state is also going to produce green ammonia and methanol.
“Now the whole industry is going towards a green economy including the marine industry, it is also now shifting to green methanol. You just imagine, the future is there for us because we got advantage in the feedstock.
“The shipping industry needs a bunkering facility and where there are international routes, they may stop at Bintulu and then you can sell your green methanol, so we need these engineers there.
“For the Sarawak government, we are investing in these areas. Of course when we export (green methanol), there will be a State Sales Tax and this will increase the state’s revenue,” he said.
