Malaysia-based Sarawak Energy plans to add 400 MW of additional floating solar power capacity by 2030 in an attempt to export renewable energy (RE) to neighbouring countries including Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.
Of the total projects in the pipeline, works have already commenced on the first facility, a 50 MW unit located at Batang Ai dam. Energy production from the site is expected to commence in 2028.
Sarawak Energy has signed agreements to export between 30 MW to 50 MW of RE to Sabah by 2024. The company is also looking to sign power purchase agreements (PPA) to export energy to Brunei and Singapore. Feasibility study to export energy via undersea cable has been completed. However, high cost and technical issues pose a challenge.
By 2030, Sarawak Energy plans will reduce coal’s share of its total power mix to 10 per cent from the existing 18 per cent. In efforts to achieve this, the utility will decommission its 210 MW Sejingkat power plant by 2028 and the 270 MW Mukah power plant after 2030.
