KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Nenggiri Hydroelectric Dam Project, to be sited 30km away from Gua Musang in Kelantan, will add 300MW to Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) total installed hydro capacity of 2,536.1MW, once approved by the Energy Commission.
It will not only enhance the grid system’s reliability and security to serve 6.96 million registered users of electricity in the peninsula but will also play a multifold role for the country and Kelantan.
Over the last 72 years, TNB has operated only three hydro-electric dam schemes in the country, – Sungai Perak Hydro Scheme (1,249.1MW), Cameron Highlands Scheme (622MW) and Kenyir Scheme (665MW).
“Green” hydro energy accounts for only 18% of TNB’s Peninsular Malaysia’s capacity at present, followed by solar at 0.6%. Of the fossil fuels, coal represents 45.6% and gas 35.9%. The combination of these green and fossil fuels allows TNB to have a total generation capacity of 16,030.53MW.
Back in 2016, hydro contributed less than 5% to Malaysia’s energy supply, notably below the peak of 29.3% in 1988.
As another promising source of renewable energy, the proposed Nenggiri Dam is poised to increase Malaysia’s renewed interest in green energy.
The Nenggiri Dam Project, once awarded to TNB, will embody the national electric utility corporation’s adherence to the government’s strategy to increase power generation from renewal energy (RE) resources.
It mirrors TNB’s proactive efforts towards using more RE, now that it is more affordable to pursue RE generation as a result of technological advances amidst greater awareness towards mitigating climate change.
Green energy’s low contribution to TNB’s generation mix will gradually change as TNB’s aim is to make RE account for 40% of its total capacity mix by 2025 as it grows its capacity domestically and in selected international markets.
It is not without merit that TNB is emphasising on the RE path. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the government had set a RE target of 31% of generation capacity for 2025.
Additionally, with the ongoing global energy transition, the future energy source is weighted heavily on green and renewable initiatives as the world strives to decarbonise and mitigate climate change.
TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din has said the group’s investments towards achieving an effective energy transition will contribute positively to the national economy as the RE industry is estimated to generate 2.5 times to 3.0 times more employment per dollar of investment than fossil fuel technologies.
TNB, after taking stock of its 10-year development strategy, has targeted to push towards a low carbon economy by increasing its RE capacity to 8,300MW by 2025, inclusive of large hydro projects. As at end 2020, TNB had achieved 3,398.2MW of RE capacity, of which 2,732.3MW is within Malaysia and 665.9MW internationally.
Besides electricity generation, the Nenggiri dam project will be supporting Kelantan in a number of areas, primarily in terms of flood mitigation and providing clean water supply, as well as electricity to rural areas, social infrastructure, and local job opportunities.
Heavy rainfall and high tides during the Northeast Monsoon months of November to February have always caused considerable hardship to the Kelantanese in low-lying areas as a result of devastating floods, as well as financial burden to the state government.
With the Nenggiri Dam playing a multifold role of flood mitigation and providing clean water besides power generation, this will benefit not only river fishermen downstream but also padi farmers who are dependent on irrigation canals. – Bernama
Source: The Sun Daily
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