TELANG Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau has proposed a bold renewable energy initiative to bring 24-hour electricity supply to rural Sarawak, calling for the implementation of Malaysia’s first solar-hydrogen microgrid in Long Bedian.
Highlighting the challenges faced by interior communities, Dennis said many longhouses in the Telang Usan constituency still rely on solar hybrid systems and diesel generators, which are costly, logistically challenging, and environmentally damaging.
“These systems require a large quantity of fuel and incur high transportation costs, not to mention their significant environmental impact,” he said when debating in support of the motion of appreciation to the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s speech in the August house today.
He noted that some longhouses rely solely on solar energy, which is insufficient for daily needs, and thus proposed a pilot green hydrogen-based microgrid system in Long Bedian as a sustainable solution.
“If implemented, this would be the first of its kind in Malaysia. The system would deliver reliable 24-hour electricity to homes, schools, clinics, government offices, and even oil palm plantations,” he said.
The proposal builds on the success of the H2E1 solar-hydrogen hybrid system implemented at Long Loyang Health Clinic in Ulu Tinjar, which was officiated by Minister for Utility and Telecommunications Sarawak, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, in August 2022.
Dennis urged the Sarawak Government to build upon this success and expand the initiative to cover not only Telang Usan, but also the neighbouring constituencies of Mulu and Marudi.
“In line with the Sarawak Government’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and our move towards green energy, this system could be a game changer for rural electrification,” he said.
At present, about 99 per cent of settlements in Telang Usan rely on solar systems provided under the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES), which only offer limited power supply.
“We must now take bold steps to move away from polluting gensets and batteries and transition towards a clean, sustainable, and efficient energy future that uplifts the living standards of our rural communities,” Dennis said.
