UKM

UKM’s Hybrid Renewable Energy System Recommended For Use on Remote Islands

Tuesday, 31 May 2011 10:55

By Abdul Ghani Nasir
Pix by Saliman Leman

 

 

 

BANGI, 31 May, 2011 – A hybrid renewable energy system combining windmill and solar-powered cells developed by UKM researchers is expected to be used on more than 40 strategic islands in the waters bordering Malaysia and its two neighbours, Thailand and the Philippines. 

The Solar Energy Reseach Institute (SERI) UKM with the cooperation of Bayucorp Sdn Bhd, a company which had received a TechnoFund grant from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation could replace the use of diesel-powered generators currently being used in police outposts in some 40 remote islands mainly in the waters off Sabah near the border with the Philippines and one to the north of Langkawi near the border with Thailand.

SERI research fellow and head of its Industrial and Social Network, Dr Sohif bin Mat said use of such a hybrid system would not only be more economical but will enable the police to resolve some of its pressing logistics problems.

The police have been tasked to patrol and safeguard the islands. Apart from protecting the nation’s sovereignty, the stations also act as lookouts for pirates, smugglers and terorists.

Between six and up to 14 police personnel are placed on duty on each of the islands. They need rations and diesel for their generator sets transported from Semporna and Tawau in Sabah. The electricity is for their quarters and controlling posts and to power  their sophisticated communication equipments.

Power needed on the islands can be more economically generated using the latest technological hybrid innovations, Dr Sohif said.

SERI is currently discussing with the Royal Malaysian Police on the  possibility of using the hybrid system combining the use of windmills and solar panels to generate power on each of the islands. SERI have also requested for details of energy demands for each of the islands.

Dr Sohif said SERI currently have three prototype windmills, with one previously set up at the Green Energy Innovation Technology Park at  the Bangi campus but had recently been moved to the Marine Ecosystem Research Centre (Ekomar) in Mersing, Johor. One more will be installed in Sabah and the third in Langkawi.

Each windmill is 30 to 40 feet tall with three fans. It has a five-kilowatt type of turbine and depending on the strength and speed of wind it can generate around 60 to100 kilowatt hours of electricity per day. The electricity generated can be supplemented by the solar cells which can store energy generated during the day.

Each hybrid set costs between RM100,000 to RM400,000 much cheaper than the cost of between RM2 million to RM3 million to setup an electricity generating system using generators and its attendant wire network.

The solar PV panels have a lifespan of  up to 30 years while the the windmill’s turbine battery can last up to 8 years.