The solar cell plant at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park is expected to start production in December 2012
Panasonic Corp plans to invest 45 billion yen (about RM1.8 billion) to build a solar cell factory in Malaysia.
The Osaka-based electronics giant will set up Panasonic Energy Malaysia Sdn Bhd next month to handle the venture at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah. Production is expected to kick off in December 2012, Panasonic said in a statement posted on its website yesterday.
It is learnt that on top of the 45 billion yen, Panasonic is also setting aside 22.5 billion yen (about RM1 billion) as capital for Panasonic Energy.
The plant will have a production capacity of 300 megawatt and employ some 1,500 people. It will have a built-up area of about 70,000 square metres.
Panasonic said the solar cell market is expected to grow further with environmental awareness increasing globally and the introduction of subsidy systems and Feed-in Tariff schemes in Japan.
“Robust demand is expected particularly in the residential sector, the main target of the Panasonic HIT (Heterojunction with Intrinsic Thin-layer) solar modules. “The new factory, to be built in the Kulim Hi Tech Park, will not only help Panasonic meet this the growing demand, but also strengthen the HIT module’s cost competitiveness with the vertically-integrated production,” the company said.
Panasonic will sell its solar modules as an individual product as well as part of a system combined with storage batteries.Panasonic is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs.
The company, which has several subsidiaries in Malaysia, recorded consolidated net sales of 8.69 trillion yen (RM335 billion) as of March 31 2011.
The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York stock exchanges.
source:http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20111126002602/Article/index_html
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Cabinet nod for green guidelines
KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has approved a green neighbourhood and low carbon city framework and assessment system aimed at reducing the nation's carbon emissions.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said the guidelines would bring the country a step closer to achieving the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 40% by 2020 as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Copenhagen last year.
“We are going all out to push the guidelines.
“Studies have shown that urbanisation contributes more than 50% of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Our small cities and townships are getting bigger,'' Chor said after launching The Star Property Fair 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd executive deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lee and chief events officer Iris Tan.
A Cabinet paper on the guidelines was approved yesterday, said Chor, adding that it was a joint collaboration between his ministry and the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.
The guidelines, which would be distributed to local authorities, would promote 3R (reduce, reuse and recyle) practices as well as other environmental-friendly policies.
“We hope developers will help spur green neighbourhoods by providing more cycling and walking paths to reduce vehicle use.
“The guidelines are not compulsory but it makes good business sense to do it,” he said.
Chor also congratulated The Star for organising the property fair which had not only attracted developers but lifestyle companies as well.
“It is fair to say that The Star Property Fair is by far the largest. Congratulations for a fantastic job.”
On errant developers, Chor reiterated that the amendments to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing Act) 1966 would ensure “fly-by-night” operators are severely dealt with.
The Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon, would see errant developers facing criminal charges and jail sentences for abandoning housing projects.
The Star Property Fair 2011 is open from 11am to 7pm and ends tomorrow. Entrance is free.
source: The Star
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/26/nation/9981302&sec=nation
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said the guidelines would bring the country a step closer to achieving the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 40% by 2020 as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Copenhagen last year.
“We are going all out to push the guidelines.
“Studies have shown that urbanisation contributes more than 50% of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Our small cities and townships are getting bigger,'' Chor said after launching The Star Property Fair 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd executive deputy chairman Datuk Vincent Lee and chief events officer Iris Tan.
A Cabinet paper on the guidelines was approved yesterday, said Chor, adding that it was a joint collaboration between his ministry and the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.
The guidelines, which would be distributed to local authorities, would promote 3R (reduce, reuse and recyle) practices as well as other environmental-friendly policies.
“We hope developers will help spur green neighbourhoods by providing more cycling and walking paths to reduce vehicle use.
“The guidelines are not compulsory but it makes good business sense to do it,” he said.
Chor also congratulated The Star for organising the property fair which had not only attracted developers but lifestyle companies as well.
“It is fair to say that The Star Property Fair is by far the largest. Congratulations for a fantastic job.”
On errant developers, Chor reiterated that the amendments to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing Act) 1966 would ensure “fly-by-night” operators are severely dealt with.
The Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon, would see errant developers facing criminal charges and jail sentences for abandoning housing projects.
The Star Property Fair 2011 is open from 11am to 7pm and ends tomorrow. Entrance is free.
source: The Star
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/26/nation/9981302&sec=nation
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
1% levy for electricity users from next month
PUTRAJAYA: About one out of four Tenaga Nasional Berhad's (TNB) customers in peninsular Malaysia will have to pay a levy of 1% out of their total electricity bills starting Dec 1.
This follows the launch of the Government's Feed-in Tariff (FiT) system for the development of renewable energy next month.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin said electricity consumers, would contribute 1% of their total electricity bills to the Renewable Energy fund if they used more than 300kWh of electricity per month. The move will affect domestic users who run up bills of more than RM77.
This contribution is on top of the consumers' monthly electricity bills.
“However, 75% of TNB's customers who use less than 300kWh per month will be exempted,” said Chin after launching the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia office here.
The FiT system is a funding mechanism under the Renewable Energy Act, designed to encourage the development of renewable energy via cost-sharing among electricity consumers.
Under the FiT system, electricity distribution licensees like TNB are obliged to buy electricity produced from certain renewable energy producers.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/23/nation/9960533&sec=nation#13220176252961&if_height=797
This follows the launch of the Government's Feed-in Tariff (FiT) system for the development of renewable energy next month.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin said electricity consumers, would contribute 1% of their total electricity bills to the Renewable Energy fund if they used more than 300kWh of electricity per month. The move will affect domestic users who run up bills of more than RM77.
This contribution is on top of the consumers' monthly electricity bills.
“However, 75% of TNB's customers who use less than 300kWh per month will be exempted,” said Chin after launching the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia office here.
The FiT system is a funding mechanism under the Renewable Energy Act, designed to encourage the development of renewable energy via cost-sharing among electricity consumers.
Under the FiT system, electricity distribution licensees like TNB are obliged to buy electricity produced from certain renewable energy producers.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/23/nation/9960533&sec=nation#13220176252961&if_height=797
Greens for life
As World Meatless Day falls on Friday, it’s appropriate that we review our eating habits, and reconsider the role of vegetables in our diet.
IN the booklet, Why Vegetarian? A Beginner’s Guide, produced by the Malaysian Vegetarian Society in the late 90s, the society’s first president, Sona Zakariya, voiced her hope that one day, instead of people asking, “Why are you a vegetarian?”, the question would instead be, “So how do you become a vegetarian?”
We often are bombarded by messages and advice telling us to “quit smoking”, “lessen sugar intake” and “cut down on fatty foods”. Some habits die hard, others die even harder. But habits can be broken, what more in human beings who are the most adaptable creatures on the planet.
According to Dr P. Vythilingam, current president of the Malaysian Vegetarian Society, there are more than one billion vegetarians in the world today, with about one million in Malaysia. And the numbers continue to grow, which should be proof enough that human beings can and do survive on a non-meat diet.
According to Dr P. Vythilingam, a vegetarian diet contains everything you would need, and a vegetarian meal actually provides more calories than a non-vegetarian one.
Today’s world provides even more reasons for one to switch to a vegetarian diet. If not for environmental or animal welfare reasons, then the very fact that humans are not anatomically equipped to handle the consumption of meat should be enough of a catalyst.
According to Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the term “omnivore” is dubious, as anthropologists and biologists have studied our evolutionary history and concluded that we are quite simply herbivores. Our stomach acidity and intestinal length all show that we cannot fully digest meat. And because we do not fully process the meat, we end up with excessive fat and cholesterol, something that does not occur in carnivores.
The Malaysian Vegetarian Society states that research has shown that vegetarians are less at risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancers, bowel disorders, gall and kidney stones and osteoporosis.
William Castelli, former director of the Framingham Heart Study, once said: “Vegetarians have the best diet. They have the lowest rates of coronary disease of any group in the country (US) ... Some people scoff at vegetarians, but they have a fraction of our heart attack rate and they have only 40% of our cancer rate. On the average, they outlive other men by about six years now.”
Dr Vythilingam pointed to industrial farming practices that indirectly leads to the health problems faced by non-vegetarians – how the animals are bred and slaughtered, and the meat produced.
“There are a lot of antibiotics pumped into the animals (to keep them healthy in otherwise harsh living conditions),” he said. “There are the pesticides and DDT sprayed on the corn used for feeding livestock. And chickens, to make them grow faster, they are injected with hormones. This is why some people have hormone-related cancers.”
And whenever a cow is taken for slaughter, it becomes stressed and this increases the adrenaline inside its body, and this, in turn, affects the person who consumes the meat.
Further stress is inflicted on the animals in the form of the cutting of a pig’s tail (to prevent them biting each other in crowded pens), or the “debeaking” of a chick, all done without anaesthesia.
“They say the amount of DDT that is in livestock feed is 13 times more than the DDT on vegetables,” said Dr Vythilingam. “That’s a very dangerous level.”
Non-vegetarians usually argue that vegetables are also full of chemicals, so there is really no avoiding the danger.
But Dr Vythilingam said: “You can wash away the chemicals on the vegetables, but you cannot do the same with meat, because it is already inside the meat. If you put your vegetables under running water, most of it will be washed away. You can’t be washing every fibre in a piece of meat.”
He said organically-grown vegetables are, of course, preferable, but just washing your vegetables properly before cooking would also be enough.
Beginner’s Guide expounds the virtues of vegetarianism.
There are a lot of myths and false beliefs surrounding vegetarianism, with many believing that a vegetarian diet lacks certain nutrients and vitamins needed for balance and health. But Dr Vythilingam said a vegetarian diet contains everything you would need and a vegetarian meal actually provides more calories than a non-vegetarian one. However, a non-vegetarian diet contains more fats and cholesterol. In fact, because the stomach has to work harder to digest meat, people often feel tired after a non-vegetarian meal.
A vegetarian meal that contains grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables will ensure a balanced diet. Iron and calcium can be found in leafy greens. Almonds, chickpeas and soyabeans also contain calcium, while grains provide protein and fibre. Vitamin B12 is only needed in microscopic amounts, and most breads today are fortified with it.
A non-vegetarian diet however, leads to an overdose of protein. And that’s not all. Because our digestive system is ill-equipped for meat consumption, some of the meat remain in our bodies and rot.
“There are not enough enzymes to digest the meat fast enough,” said Dr Vythilingam. “Which means you’re putting all this dead meat in your stomach; it is like a graveyard. It is all rotting. And you do not know how fresh the meat is. To make the meat look red and fresh immediately after slaughtering, they put in nitrites and nitrates (carcinogens). But you can’t see that it’s rotting inside.”
“And look at animal diseases – mad cow disease, Japanese encephalitis, bird flu – all these are from animals. There are no such things in vegetables,” he added.
Another false belief is that vegetarians are all lean and thin, but few know that obese vegans and vegetarians do exist.
“This is because they consume more carbohydrates, more rice, and less of other things,” said Dr Vythilingam. “Again, you have to look at how the food is prepared. If they always consume deep-fried food, that will also increase the risk of diseases. We always advise vegetarians to be cautious.”
And vegetarians too can suffer from cancer if they consume too much saturated fat and deep-fried foods. But comparative studies have shown that the number of cancer sufferers among vegetarians is lower than among non-vegetarians.
Prof Nick Day of the University Of Cambridge and the European Prospective Study Into Cancer stated that there are 40% fewer cancers among vegetarians compared to the general population.
“It’s never too late to start a vegetarian diet,” advised Dr Vythilingam. “Human beings are the only ones on earth who can adapt to anything. You can’t give a cow a piece of chicken and condition the cow to eat it. And you don’t give grass to a tiger. But human beings can be ‘conditioned’.”
● World Meatless Day falls on Nov 25. The Malaysian Meatless Day campaign invites individuals and organisations to make a pledge to go meatless on that day. You can e-mail your pledge to penangmeatless@yahoo.com or fax it to 04-261 0126. All you have to say is “I hereby pledge to go meatless on Nov 25”. Name is required, but phone number and address are optional.
source: http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2011/11/23/health/9927049&sec=health
IN the booklet, Why Vegetarian? A Beginner’s Guide, produced by the Malaysian Vegetarian Society in the late 90s, the society’s first president, Sona Zakariya, voiced her hope that one day, instead of people asking, “Why are you a vegetarian?”, the question would instead be, “So how do you become a vegetarian?”
We often are bombarded by messages and advice telling us to “quit smoking”, “lessen sugar intake” and “cut down on fatty foods”. Some habits die hard, others die even harder. But habits can be broken, what more in human beings who are the most adaptable creatures on the planet.
According to Dr P. Vythilingam, current president of the Malaysian Vegetarian Society, there are more than one billion vegetarians in the world today, with about one million in Malaysia. And the numbers continue to grow, which should be proof enough that human beings can and do survive on a non-meat diet.
According to Dr P. Vythilingam, a vegetarian diet contains everything you would need, and a vegetarian meal actually provides more calories than a non-vegetarian one.
Today’s world provides even more reasons for one to switch to a vegetarian diet. If not for environmental or animal welfare reasons, then the very fact that humans are not anatomically equipped to handle the consumption of meat should be enough of a catalyst.
According to Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the term “omnivore” is dubious, as anthropologists and biologists have studied our evolutionary history and concluded that we are quite simply herbivores. Our stomach acidity and intestinal length all show that we cannot fully digest meat. And because we do not fully process the meat, we end up with excessive fat and cholesterol, something that does not occur in carnivores.
The Malaysian Vegetarian Society states that research has shown that vegetarians are less at risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancers, bowel disorders, gall and kidney stones and osteoporosis.
William Castelli, former director of the Framingham Heart Study, once said: “Vegetarians have the best diet. They have the lowest rates of coronary disease of any group in the country (US) ... Some people scoff at vegetarians, but they have a fraction of our heart attack rate and they have only 40% of our cancer rate. On the average, they outlive other men by about six years now.”
Dr Vythilingam pointed to industrial farming practices that indirectly leads to the health problems faced by non-vegetarians – how the animals are bred and slaughtered, and the meat produced.
“There are a lot of antibiotics pumped into the animals (to keep them healthy in otherwise harsh living conditions),” he said. “There are the pesticides and DDT sprayed on the corn used for feeding livestock. And chickens, to make them grow faster, they are injected with hormones. This is why some people have hormone-related cancers.”
And whenever a cow is taken for slaughter, it becomes stressed and this increases the adrenaline inside its body, and this, in turn, affects the person who consumes the meat.
Further stress is inflicted on the animals in the form of the cutting of a pig’s tail (to prevent them biting each other in crowded pens), or the “debeaking” of a chick, all done without anaesthesia.
“They say the amount of DDT that is in livestock feed is 13 times more than the DDT on vegetables,” said Dr Vythilingam. “That’s a very dangerous level.”
Non-vegetarians usually argue that vegetables are also full of chemicals, so there is really no avoiding the danger.
But Dr Vythilingam said: “You can wash away the chemicals on the vegetables, but you cannot do the same with meat, because it is already inside the meat. If you put your vegetables under running water, most of it will be washed away. You can’t be washing every fibre in a piece of meat.”
He said organically-grown vegetables are, of course, preferable, but just washing your vegetables properly before cooking would also be enough.
Beginner’s Guide expounds the virtues of vegetarianism.
There are a lot of myths and false beliefs surrounding vegetarianism, with many believing that a vegetarian diet lacks certain nutrients and vitamins needed for balance and health. But Dr Vythilingam said a vegetarian diet contains everything you would need and a vegetarian meal actually provides more calories than a non-vegetarian one. However, a non-vegetarian diet contains more fats and cholesterol. In fact, because the stomach has to work harder to digest meat, people often feel tired after a non-vegetarian meal.
A vegetarian meal that contains grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables will ensure a balanced diet. Iron and calcium can be found in leafy greens. Almonds, chickpeas and soyabeans also contain calcium, while grains provide protein and fibre. Vitamin B12 is only needed in microscopic amounts, and most breads today are fortified with it.
A non-vegetarian diet however, leads to an overdose of protein. And that’s not all. Because our digestive system is ill-equipped for meat consumption, some of the meat remain in our bodies and rot.
“There are not enough enzymes to digest the meat fast enough,” said Dr Vythilingam. “Which means you’re putting all this dead meat in your stomach; it is like a graveyard. It is all rotting. And you do not know how fresh the meat is. To make the meat look red and fresh immediately after slaughtering, they put in nitrites and nitrates (carcinogens). But you can’t see that it’s rotting inside.”
“And look at animal diseases – mad cow disease, Japanese encephalitis, bird flu – all these are from animals. There are no such things in vegetables,” he added.
Another false belief is that vegetarians are all lean and thin, but few know that obese vegans and vegetarians do exist.
“This is because they consume more carbohydrates, more rice, and less of other things,” said Dr Vythilingam. “Again, you have to look at how the food is prepared. If they always consume deep-fried food, that will also increase the risk of diseases. We always advise vegetarians to be cautious.”
And vegetarians too can suffer from cancer if they consume too much saturated fat and deep-fried foods. But comparative studies have shown that the number of cancer sufferers among vegetarians is lower than among non-vegetarians.
Prof Nick Day of the University Of Cambridge and the European Prospective Study Into Cancer stated that there are 40% fewer cancers among vegetarians compared to the general population.
“It’s never too late to start a vegetarian diet,” advised Dr Vythilingam. “Human beings are the only ones on earth who can adapt to anything. You can’t give a cow a piece of chicken and condition the cow to eat it. And you don’t give grass to a tiger. But human beings can be ‘conditioned’.”
● World Meatless Day falls on Nov 25. The Malaysian Meatless Day campaign invites individuals and organisations to make a pledge to go meatless on that day. You can e-mail your pledge to penangmeatless@yahoo.com or fax it to 04-261 0126. All you have to say is “I hereby pledge to go meatless on Nov 25”. Name is required, but phone number and address are optional.
source: http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2011/11/23/health/9927049&sec=health
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Exxon Mobil: Gas, coal to stay as region’s main energy sources
KUALA LUMPUR: Natural gas and coal will continue to be the main energy sources in South-East Asia, said Exxon Mobil Corporation.
Senior energy advisor, corporate strategic planning department, David S. Reed said Malaysia would continue to see rising demand for electricity driven by the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, mainly for air conditioning.
He said gas and coal provide the lowest cost electricity generation in South-East Asian countries like Malaysia, and would contribute further to the increase in demand.
“Demand for coal and gas together for electricity production is expected to triple from 2005 to 2030,” he said in a media roundtable on ExxonMobil's Outlook for Energy here yesterday.
Reed said power generation demand increases the most volumetrically as electricity demand grows with higher incomes.
“Today, about 40% of the world's power comes from coal, while about 20% comes from natural gas.“However, the government will gain as natural gas produces up to 60% less CO2 emissions than coal,” he said. ExxonMobil projects global energy demand to rise by 35% from 2005 to 2030, even with substantial gains in efficiency across all regions around the world.
He said the world's energy supply was getting very diverse and would continue to be so, which signified a good trend.
Transportation energy demand in South-East Asia would nearly double going forward due to a rapid increase in the personal car fleet and road and marine freight movements, he added.
“Industrial demand growth is supported by growth in heavy industry such as steel and cement production and auto manufacturing,” he said.
It would take decades to make a meaningful change to the world's energy mix, but those changes were underway in South-East Asia and globally, he said.
Reed said the world was moving towards cleaner, more diverse energy sources. - Bernama
source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/19/business/9935793&sec=business#13216857348281&if_height=538
Senior energy advisor, corporate strategic planning department, David S. Reed said Malaysia would continue to see rising demand for electricity driven by the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, mainly for air conditioning.
He said gas and coal provide the lowest cost electricity generation in South-East Asian countries like Malaysia, and would contribute further to the increase in demand.
“Demand for coal and gas together for electricity production is expected to triple from 2005 to 2030,” he said in a media roundtable on ExxonMobil's Outlook for Energy here yesterday.
Reed said power generation demand increases the most volumetrically as electricity demand grows with higher incomes.
“Today, about 40% of the world's power comes from coal, while about 20% comes from natural gas.“However, the government will gain as natural gas produces up to 60% less CO2 emissions than coal,” he said. ExxonMobil projects global energy demand to rise by 35% from 2005 to 2030, even with substantial gains in efficiency across all regions around the world.
He said the world's energy supply was getting very diverse and would continue to be so, which signified a good trend.
Transportation energy demand in South-East Asia would nearly double going forward due to a rapid increase in the personal car fleet and road and marine freight movements, he added.
“Industrial demand growth is supported by growth in heavy industry such as steel and cement production and auto manufacturing,” he said.
It would take decades to make a meaningful change to the world's energy mix, but those changes were underway in South-East Asia and globally, he said.
Reed said the world was moving towards cleaner, more diverse energy sources. - Bernama
source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/19/business/9935793&sec=business#13216857348281&if_height=538
Friday, November 18, 2011
COMPUGT獲太陽能計劃
吉隆坡16日訊）今日成交最熾熱的COMPUGT控股（COMPUGT，5037，主板貿服組）獲沙巴園公司（Sabah Parks）頒發合約，以在海龜島公園（Turtle Island Park）供應及安裝6千瓦綠色太陽能混合系統。
該公司發文告指出, 實驗性計劃也是沙巴園打入綠色替代能源的首炮。
除了沙巴園，COMPUGT控股也正與其他政府機構及沙巴當地機構展開洽談，以提供綠色能源解決方案。（星洲日報／財經）
該公司發文告指出, 實驗性計劃也是沙巴園打入綠色替代能源的首炮。
除了沙巴園，COMPUGT控股也正與其他政府機構及沙巴當地機構展開洽談，以提供綠色能源解決方案。（星洲日報／財經）
Panasonic to build solar panel plant in M'sia reports Nikkei
TOKYO: Panasonic Corp will invest 50 billion yen ($645 million) to build a solar panel plant in Malaysia, to bolster output by a third to 900,000 kilowatts, the Nikkei business daily reported.
The plant, which will open in 2012, will be its first full-range production facility outside Japan that will make silicon wafers and complete final assembly of panels, the Nikkei said.
By building panels overseas the Japanese company is aiming to remain competitive as a strong yen at home pushes up production costs, the paper said
Panasonic, which has been touting environmental and energy technology as key growth areas, in October dropped a plan to convert a television plant into a solar power factory because of the strong yen and an industry price war. ($1 = 76.985 Japanese Yen)
source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/18/business/20111118075129&sec=business
The plant, which will open in 2012, will be its first full-range production facility outside Japan that will make silicon wafers and complete final assembly of panels, the Nikkei said.
By building panels overseas the Japanese company is aiming to remain competitive as a strong yen at home pushes up production costs, the paper said
Panasonic, which has been touting environmental and energy technology as key growth areas, in October dropped a plan to convert a television plant into a solar power factory because of the strong yen and an industry price war. ($1 = 76.985 Japanese Yen)
source: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/18/business/20111118075129&sec=business
Thursday, November 17, 2011
First Solar to enlarge pool of Malaysia suppliers
KULIM Solar cell vendor First Solar Inc is looking to increase the local content of the photovoltaic (PV) solar modules it ships out of Malaysia by enlarging the pool of its local suppliers.
The company - via wholly-owned subsidiary First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd - currently sources between 20 per cent and 25 per cent of its materials from a pool of local vendors in sectors such as glass, packaging, labelling and the handling of semiconductor materials.
"We expect to see a greater role played in our manufacturing operations by small and medium-sized firms here next year.
"By the third quarter of 2012, First Solar will finalise how much more local content can be incorporated into our products," First Solar Malaysia's managing director P'ng Soo Hong told reporters during the company's milestone ce-lebrations of hitting a cumulative total of three gigawatts (GW) power worth of solar modules at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah yesterday.
The event was officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
First Solar Malaysia began operations in Kulim in 2007 with a single manufacturing plant and 109 employees.
Today, the company has six facilities and has grown its workforce to 3,500, while contributing some RM3.45 billion to the local economy since 2007.
P'ng said as First Solar works on growing its supplier base in Malaysia, providers of raw materials and spare parts needed for solar panels would be sought.
"The sustainable growth of our production is proof that the decision to make Malaysia the largest production hub for First Solar globally was the right one," he added.
A trade publication on photonics last year stated that First Solar had earmarked US$1 billion (RM3.17 billion) for 2011 to increase its total production capacity from 1.43 GW in 2010 to around 2.1 GW this year and 2.7 GW in 2012.
Meanwhile, Mukhriz in his speech said with the momentous output by First Solar currently, Malaysia is firming up its position as one of the largest solar panel producing nations."We are now overtaking much larger competitor nations as world-class companies start to expand their capacities in Malaysia."
source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/solar16/Article/index_html
The company - via wholly-owned subsidiary First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd - currently sources between 20 per cent and 25 per cent of its materials from a pool of local vendors in sectors such as glass, packaging, labelling and the handling of semiconductor materials.
"We expect to see a greater role played in our manufacturing operations by small and medium-sized firms here next year.
"By the third quarter of 2012, First Solar will finalise how much more local content can be incorporated into our products," First Solar Malaysia's managing director P'ng Soo Hong told reporters during the company's milestone ce-lebrations of hitting a cumulative total of three gigawatts (GW) power worth of solar modules at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah yesterday.
The event was officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
First Solar Malaysia began operations in Kulim in 2007 with a single manufacturing plant and 109 employees.
Today, the company has six facilities and has grown its workforce to 3,500, while contributing some RM3.45 billion to the local economy since 2007.
P'ng said as First Solar works on growing its supplier base in Malaysia, providers of raw materials and spare parts needed for solar panels would be sought.
"The sustainable growth of our production is proof that the decision to make Malaysia the largest production hub for First Solar globally was the right one," he added.
A trade publication on photonics last year stated that First Solar had earmarked US$1 billion (RM3.17 billion) for 2011 to increase its total production capacity from 1.43 GW in 2010 to around 2.1 GW this year and 2.7 GW in 2012.
Meanwhile, Mukhriz in his speech said with the momentous output by First Solar currently, Malaysia is firming up its position as one of the largest solar panel producing nations."We are now overtaking much larger competitor nations as world-class companies start to expand their capacities in Malaysia."
source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/solar16/Article/index_html
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Maybank starts US$500m clean energy fund
Maybank and Maybank MEACP Pte Ltd of Singapore have launched a US$500 million (RM1.568 billion) clean energy fund, which offers investors an opportunity to tap the growing interest in clean and renewable energy in Asia.
Maybank Investment Bank chief executive officer, Tengku Datuk Zafrul Tengku Aziz, said the ten-year private equity fund was targeted at global institutional investors with a minimum US$10 million investment.
"The fund will be invested in a diversified portfolio of clean energy projects in the Asia-Pacific focusing on China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos," he said.
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony and launch of the fund here today, Zafrul said, the fund would prioritise power generation infrastructure projects using renewable sources.
He said to-date the fund has US$87.5 million, of which Maybank contributed US$50 million, Asia Development Bank US$20 million and International Finance Corp US$17.5 million.
Zafrul said the fund was dedicated for clean and energy projects in sectors such as wind, solar, geothermal, small hydro, biomass, bio fuels and energy efficiency.
"Through this fund Maybank is able to tap a sector with immense potential and attractive returns, while being a responsible corporate citizen in doing our part for the environment," he said.
The new fund will be co-managed by Maybank Ventures Sdn Bhd and Maybank MEACP Pte Ltd, a joint venture private equity fund manager set up by Maybank with private funds managers from Asia-Pacific and Middle East. - Bernama
Read more: Maybank starts US$500m clean energy fund http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20111115191231/Article/index_html#ixzz1dm40AHRI
Maybank Investment Bank chief executive officer, Tengku Datuk Zafrul Tengku Aziz, said the ten-year private equity fund was targeted at global institutional investors with a minimum US$10 million investment.
"The fund will be invested in a diversified portfolio of clean energy projects in the Asia-Pacific focusing on China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos," he said.
Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony and launch of the fund here today, Zafrul said, the fund would prioritise power generation infrastructure projects using renewable sources.
He said to-date the fund has US$87.5 million, of which Maybank contributed US$50 million, Asia Development Bank US$20 million and International Finance Corp US$17.5 million.
Zafrul said the fund was dedicated for clean and energy projects in sectors such as wind, solar, geothermal, small hydro, biomass, bio fuels and energy efficiency.
"Through this fund Maybank is able to tap a sector with immense potential and attractive returns, while being a responsible corporate citizen in doing our part for the environment," he said.
The new fund will be co-managed by Maybank Ventures Sdn Bhd and Maybank MEACP Pte Ltd, a joint venture private equity fund manager set up by Maybank with private funds managers from Asia-Pacific and Middle East. - Bernama
Read more: Maybank starts US$500m clean energy fund http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20111115191231/Article/index_html#ixzz1dm40AHRI
Saturday, November 12, 2011
ABB concept to revolutionize concentrating solar power plants
ABB concept to revolutionize concentrating solar power plants
2011-11-10 - ABB has launched a new concept for turnkey concentrating solar power plants based on a low-cost, highly efficient and highly scalable technology that uses considerably less material, land and water than any other CSP technology.
ABB and Novatec Solar, a company in which ABB is a shareholder, are together able to offer scalable turnkey solutions for revolutionary concentrating solar power (CSP) plants that are extremely quick, easy and cost effective to build and operate.
Based on Novatec Solar’s patented Fresnel-based CSP technology, the plants use 70 percent less material, require 40 percent less land and consume 80 percent less water per megawatt generated than parabolic trough designs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ABB-Novatec Solar concept can be used to generate energy in a wide range of applications including stand alone or hybrid power plants, as fuel savers in existing power plants, in desalination and district cooling plants, and in industrial processes that require steam.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is achieved through an innovative solar boiler design for direct steam generation based on linear Fresnel collector technology. Instead of the curved mirrors of a parabolic trough, the collectors use flat glass mirrors to reflect solar energy onto a receiver in which water is vaporized directly to produce superheated steam at temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 100 bars.
By using standard materials such as sheet plates and glass mirrors, the automated mass production of key components in locally erected production facilities, a fast and accurate assembly process, highly efficient land use, and a robotic cleaning system that uses very little water, the cost of building and operating the plants is kept exceptionally low, features that offer huge potential for global deployment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“I was really impressed by the technology and its simplicity. This cost-effective solution and the very low amount of water needed, make it particularly suitable for installations in Algeria and all African countries experiencing difficult climate conditions.”
Bennaceur Fateh, expert engineer at Sonelgaz CEEG
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In September, this concept was introduced to some 50 customers from all over the world visiting two installations in Spain to learn more about the ABB-Novatec offering and see the simplicity and ingenuity of the technology at first hand.
The guests visited Novatec Solar’s 1.4 megawatt (MWe) demonstration plant in Murcia, which has been generating power for the Spanish power grid since 2009. Next to the site and currently under construction is the first commercial installation of the technology - a 30 MWe solar thermal power plant that is scheduled to start generating power for the grid in 2012.
A third plant in Australia demonstrates the versatility of the concept. When completed in early 2012 the 9.3 MWth plant will be the world’s first solar boiler contributing steam to drive the turbines and helping reduce carbon emissions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“The concept fits very well with our products. In particular, it is possible to couple with it a power block with one of our steam turbines and generators. The high temperature achieved by the solution can play a significant role in the field of integrated solar gas turbine power plants. Compared to other technologies, the ratio of megawatt-hours per square meter is particularly favorable.”
Lucio Gallo, Vice President and Head of Renewables and Distributed Energies, Ansaldo Energia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to its role as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), ABB will also supply the electrical and control equipment for the plant and provide the all-important grid connection to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of the electricity generated to the power grid.
ABB already has a highly successful EPC concept for photovoltaic (PV) power plants, and has successful delivered 26 plants with a combined capacity of more than 120 MW in the past nine months alone (tbc). The largest of these plants has a generating capacity of 39 MW.
source: http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/66052e8a3be4619fc12579430047917f.aspx
2011-11-10 - ABB has launched a new concept for turnkey concentrating solar power plants based on a low-cost, highly efficient and highly scalable technology that uses considerably less material, land and water than any other CSP technology.
ABB and Novatec Solar, a company in which ABB is a shareholder, are together able to offer scalable turnkey solutions for revolutionary concentrating solar power (CSP) plants that are extremely quick, easy and cost effective to build and operate.
Based on Novatec Solar’s patented Fresnel-based CSP technology, the plants use 70 percent less material, require 40 percent less land and consume 80 percent less water per megawatt generated than parabolic trough designs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ABB-Novatec Solar concept can be used to generate energy in a wide range of applications including stand alone or hybrid power plants, as fuel savers in existing power plants, in desalination and district cooling plants, and in industrial processes that require steam.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is achieved through an innovative solar boiler design for direct steam generation based on linear Fresnel collector technology. Instead of the curved mirrors of a parabolic trough, the collectors use flat glass mirrors to reflect solar energy onto a receiver in which water is vaporized directly to produce superheated steam at temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 100 bars.
By using standard materials such as sheet plates and glass mirrors, the automated mass production of key components in locally erected production facilities, a fast and accurate assembly process, highly efficient land use, and a robotic cleaning system that uses very little water, the cost of building and operating the plants is kept exceptionally low, features that offer huge potential for global deployment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“I was really impressed by the technology and its simplicity. This cost-effective solution and the very low amount of water needed, make it particularly suitable for installations in Algeria and all African countries experiencing difficult climate conditions.”
Bennaceur Fateh, expert engineer at Sonelgaz CEEG
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In September, this concept was introduced to some 50 customers from all over the world visiting two installations in Spain to learn more about the ABB-Novatec offering and see the simplicity and ingenuity of the technology at first hand.
The guests visited Novatec Solar’s 1.4 megawatt (MWe) demonstration plant in Murcia, which has been generating power for the Spanish power grid since 2009. Next to the site and currently under construction is the first commercial installation of the technology - a 30 MWe solar thermal power plant that is scheduled to start generating power for the grid in 2012.
A third plant in Australia demonstrates the versatility of the concept. When completed in early 2012 the 9.3 MWth plant will be the world’s first solar boiler contributing steam to drive the turbines and helping reduce carbon emissions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“The concept fits very well with our products. In particular, it is possible to couple with it a power block with one of our steam turbines and generators. The high temperature achieved by the solution can play a significant role in the field of integrated solar gas turbine power plants. Compared to other technologies, the ratio of megawatt-hours per square meter is particularly favorable.”
Lucio Gallo, Vice President and Head of Renewables and Distributed Energies, Ansaldo Energia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to its role as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), ABB will also supply the electrical and control equipment for the plant and provide the all-important grid connection to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of the electricity generated to the power grid.
ABB already has a highly successful EPC concept for photovoltaic (PV) power plants, and has successful delivered 26 plants with a combined capacity of more than 120 MW in the past nine months alone (tbc). The largest of these plants has a generating capacity of 39 MW.
source: http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/66052e8a3be4619fc12579430047917f.aspx
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sell renewable energy by testing system tomorrow
PETALING JAYA: Those interested in applying for the feed-in-tariff (FiT) system a mechanism that allows individuals and others to sell electricity generated from renewable resources to utility firms are invited to test the e-Fit Online System tomorrow.
The three-day trial run is a chance for the public to familiarise themselves with the system before its Dec 1 launch.
The trial run was announced by Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, chairman of Sustainable Energy Deve-lopment Authority (Seda) Malaysia, which manages and monitors the FiT programme.
FiT allows individuals or non-individuals to sell electricity generated from renewable energy resources back to power utility firms at a fixed premium price for a specific duration.
The four renewal energy resources that are eligible for FiT are biogas, biomass, small hydropower and solar photovoltaic.
Although allocations for FiT are based on a first-come-first-serve basis through the e-FiT Online System, there are quotas in place for each of the four resources.
According to Seda's website, the quotas are put in place to ensure there is enough funding for FiT payments to those participating as electricity generators.
The rules and guidelines for FiT are as yet unavailable, but a Seda spokesman said they would be put online by month's end.
Testing on seda.gov.my/gamma/ will be conducted from 10am on Nov 5 to 5pm on Nov 7.
Users are invited to e-mail their feedback to Seda Malaysia by Nov 8 at fit@seda.gov.my.
Source: The star
The three-day trial run is a chance for the public to familiarise themselves with the system before its Dec 1 launch.
The trial run was announced by Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, chairman of Sustainable Energy Deve-lopment Authority (Seda) Malaysia, which manages and monitors the FiT programme.
FiT allows individuals or non-individuals to sell electricity generated from renewable energy resources back to power utility firms at a fixed premium price for a specific duration.
The four renewal energy resources that are eligible for FiT are biogas, biomass, small hydropower and solar photovoltaic.
Although allocations for FiT are based on a first-come-first-serve basis through the e-FiT Online System, there are quotas in place for each of the four resources.
According to Seda's website, the quotas are put in place to ensure there is enough funding for FiT payments to those participating as electricity generators.
The rules and guidelines for FiT are as yet unavailable, but a Seda spokesman said they would be put online by month's end.
Testing on seda.gov.my/gamma/ will be conducted from 10am on Nov 5 to 5pm on Nov 7.
Users are invited to e-mail their feedback to Seda Malaysia by Nov 8 at fit@seda.gov.my.
Source: The star
Proton hopes Govt will look into incentive policy for electric vehicles
SURREY (Britain): Malaysia's national car maker, Proton Holdings Bhd, hopes the government will look into an incentive policy or offer rebate for electric vehicles (EVs) to spur Malaysians to move to EVs.
Its Green Tech Department, Board Project director Datuk Zainuddin Che Din said the cost of the vehicle ownership was among the challenges in the implementation of the EVs or hybrid vehicles initiatives.
He said the Green Project Team is working with the United Kingdom-based Frazer-Nash Research Ltd to develop the Proton Saga EV and Proton Exora Extended Range EV (REEV) expected to roll out in the first half of 2013.
Citing examples, he said, the United States government provides US$7,500 tax credit, the Chinese government provides subsidies of up to US$8,800 for purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and UK Plug-in Car Grant offers 25 per cent discount up to a maximum 5,000 pounds for a new car.
Zainuddin said there was lack of awareness of the benefits and advantages in Malaysia for EV vehicles and relatively the cost would be higher than normal vehicles.
"The EV or better known as the hybrid industry is still new among Malaysians and the price will be higher due to high technology acquisition costs and high installation costs of charging stations," he told BERNAMA after briefing the Malaysian media on the progress of electrification plans for proton cars.
At the media briefing, Zainuddin said while the EVs would be cheaper to operate but purchasing would be costly, (therefore) it was important to promote the industry's growth.
He said incentives or rebates would be one way to attract Malaysians to buy EVs which would snowball to create awareness going forward.The Exora REEV has an on-board generator to recharge the battery-driven engine and the Proton Saga EV is purely battery-powered.
On demand, Zainuddin said if the government withdrew fuel subsidies, the petrol consumption would be less as compared to previous petrol quantity at the same price.
"So, demand for EVs would likely increase as people will perhaps look into moving to EVs and incentives will encourage them further," he added. - BERNAMA
source: The Star
Its Green Tech Department, Board Project director Datuk Zainuddin Che Din said the cost of the vehicle ownership was among the challenges in the implementation of the EVs or hybrid vehicles initiatives.
He said the Green Project Team is working with the United Kingdom-based Frazer-Nash Research Ltd to develop the Proton Saga EV and Proton Exora Extended Range EV (REEV) expected to roll out in the first half of 2013.
Citing examples, he said, the United States government provides US$7,500 tax credit, the Chinese government provides subsidies of up to US$8,800 for purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and UK Plug-in Car Grant offers 25 per cent discount up to a maximum 5,000 pounds for a new car.
Zainuddin said there was lack of awareness of the benefits and advantages in Malaysia for EV vehicles and relatively the cost would be higher than normal vehicles.
"The EV or better known as the hybrid industry is still new among Malaysians and the price will be higher due to high technology acquisition costs and high installation costs of charging stations," he told BERNAMA after briefing the Malaysian media on the progress of electrification plans for proton cars.
At the media briefing, Zainuddin said while the EVs would be cheaper to operate but purchasing would be costly, (therefore) it was important to promote the industry's growth.
He said incentives or rebates would be one way to attract Malaysians to buy EVs which would snowball to create awareness going forward.The Exora REEV has an on-board generator to recharge the battery-driven engine and the Proton Saga EV is purely battery-powered.
On demand, Zainuddin said if the government withdrew fuel subsidies, the petrol consumption would be less as compared to previous petrol quantity at the same price.
"So, demand for EVs would likely increase as people will perhaps look into moving to EVs and incentives will encourage them further," he added. - BERNAMA
source: The Star
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
i-MiEV註冊‧三菱首推電動車
大馬三菱汽車不久前在馬來西亞率先註冊了第一輛純電動車――三菱i-MiEV。
隨著i-MiEV的註冊，大馬三菱也將展開多項配合性活動，主旨在於喚醒公眾的醒覺意識，而全電動車的推介，主要的標在於協助減緩日漸暖化的氣候壓力。
i-MiEV的註冊，意味著愛車人有機會測試純電動車，從中瞭解革新車藝的研發背景，以及如何為零排廢的宏願盡一分力。
充電8小時
行駛160公里
i-MiEV的取名由來，源自於Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle，在友善的應用模式下，車主在家中可通過230伏特的電壓充電，8小時的充電過程，二廂四座五門掀背式的電動車，在時速130公里的駕駛狀態下，續航里程長達160公里。
2010年發售以來，三菱i-MiEV至今已在日本售出4千輛，海外銷售量更為標青，1萬輛以上的銷售量，登陸點包括歐洲、香港、澳洲、紐西蘭及智利等。
靈感源自三菱Minicab EV的i-MiEV，純電動車的驅動力，來自於鋰離子電池與永磁式電動馬達組合，最大馬力及最大扭力分別為49千瓦及180牛頓米。（星洲日報／投資致富‧車壇GoGo）
隨著i-MiEV的註冊，大馬三菱也將展開多項配合性活動，主旨在於喚醒公眾的醒覺意識，而全電動車的推介，主要的標在於協助減緩日漸暖化的氣候壓力。
i-MiEV的註冊，意味著愛車人有機會測試純電動車，從中瞭解革新車藝的研發背景，以及如何為零排廢的宏願盡一分力。
充電8小時
行駛160公里
i-MiEV的取名由來，源自於Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle，在友善的應用模式下，車主在家中可通過230伏特的電壓充電，8小時的充電過程，二廂四座五門掀背式的電動車，在時速130公里的駕駛狀態下，續航里程長達160公里。
2010年發售以來，三菱i-MiEV至今已在日本售出4千輛，海外銷售量更為標青，1萬輛以上的銷售量，登陸點包括歐洲、香港、澳洲、紐西蘭及智利等。
靈感源自三菱Minicab EV的i-MiEV，純電動車的驅動力，來自於鋰離子電池與永磁式電動馬達組合，最大馬力及最大扭力分別為49千瓦及180牛頓米。（星洲日報／投資致富‧車壇GoGo）
Tenaga faces gas shortage for 2-3 mths more
SINGAPORE: Malaysian energy utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd will have to deal with gas shortages for another two to three months, the country’s energy minister said on Tuesday.
“We have to grapple with this issue for the next two to three months. It is a maintenance issue rather than a complete lack of gas,” Malaysia’s Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Peter Chin said on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week conference.
Tenaga has been buying more expensive fuel oil to replace natural gas for electricity generation, which its chief executive has said cost the company an additional RM2.1 billion (US$684 million) in fuel costs for the second half of 2011. -- Reuters
Read more: Tenaga faces gas shortage for 2-3 mths more http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20111101131145/Article/index_html#ixzz1cRVlaXKI
“We have to grapple with this issue for the next two to three months. It is a maintenance issue rather than a complete lack of gas,” Malaysia’s Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Peter Chin said on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week conference.
Tenaga has been buying more expensive fuel oil to replace natural gas for electricity generation, which its chief executive has said cost the company an additional RM2.1 billion (US$684 million) in fuel costs for the second half of 2011. -- Reuters
Read more: Tenaga faces gas shortage for 2-3 mths more http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20111101131145/Article/index_html#ixzz1cRVlaXKI
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)