Tuesday, December 31, 2013

How much you will pay electricity bill in 2014?

source : TNB website (www.tnb.com.my)

Start from 1 January 2014, Malaysia household will get ready to face the new year challenges.

The new electricity rate will  impact the most of middle class family (with monthly billing above RM43.60) . For those houses consume alot of water heaters and air conditionals, your disposal income will sharply reduce by paying exorbitant high electricity bill if initiatives of saving electricity are not in place. No more cheap electricity to waste.

Kindly refer new TNB domestic (household) tariff start from 2014 as shown as above picture.
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Example:

If your  household monthly bill is around 580unit (kwh), you are going to pay  RM220.62  (old rate RM190.59)    Increase of 15.8%

Total bill : RM220.62 + 220.62x1.6% (RE fund)
                =RM223.82 (for January 2014)

_______________________________________________________________


If your monthly hitting up to 650unit (kwh), your bill can reach almost RM257.69 (Old Rate RM220.25)
Increase of 17%

Total Bill: RM257.69 + RM257.69 x 1.6 % (RE Fund)
                  =RM261.8 (for January 2014)


Note : The above calculation doesn't included GST tax (will start on 2015)

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Surcharge on Electricity Bills for Renewable Energy Fund Revised from 1.0% to 1.6%



Putrajaya, Tuesday (3 December 2013): The Chairman of Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia Y.Bhg. Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai today echoed the announcement made on Monday, 2nd December 2013 by the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water regarding the revised surcharge on electricity bill for the Renewable Energy (RE) Fund. Effective 1st January 2014, the surcharge will be revised from 1.0% to 1.6% for distribution licensees such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). It is to be noted for Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) consumers this is the first time a 1.6 % surcharge on electricity bill will take effect.

The RE Fund is created via Section 23 of the Renewable Energy Act 2011 through the implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) mechanism enabling electricity generated from renewable sources to be paid a premium tariff. The FiT mechanism was implemented on the 1st December 2011 with the enforcement the RE Act 2011. However not all electricity consumers are obliged to contribute to the RE Fund. While the RE Fund is critical to ensure the sustainable growth of renewable energy, the Government is mindful to protect consumers with 300 kWh and less of electricity usage (equivalent to RM77) who will be exempted from such contribution. In Peninsular Malaysia only 29% and 38% from Sabah, of the total domestic electricity consumers will be affected.

source : http://seda.gov.my

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Solar Street Lightings In Bali, Indonesia


Solar Street lightings are common used in Bali, Indonesia as one of the initiatives to switch green energy to light up the township.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Green building fever fast spreading in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The green building fever is fast catching on in Malaysia and there are now 200 development projects certified by Green Building Index (GBI) as being green buildings.

Developers are realising that despite the marginal rise in building costs when they decide to make their projects "green", there are marked advantages to doing so, like their properties fetching higher prices and the developments being associated with prestige.

At the moment, many developers see green certifications for their buildings as a quick ticket to bigger profit and a mean to raise the gross development value of their projects.

However, architect Von Kong Leong, the immediate past president of Malaysia Green Building Confederation, feels it is a start to a trend that is surely to stay for the long term and will become more pervasive and, ultimately, become part of the local property scene. 

Von, who is Malaysia's Green Building Index accreditation panel member, was speaking on the sidelines of "The Green Building Seminar 2013", organised by Malaysia Green Building Confederation, here, yesterday.

He said the World Green Building Council, which is a network of national green building councils in more than 90 countries, recognises GBI.

Von said GBI was initiated in January 2009 and launched in May the same year.

The GBI currently issues four levels of certifications: normal, silver, gold and platinum.

Typically, said Von, a normal "green" certification will increase the cost of a development project by anywhere between zero and three per cent; silver (one and five per cent); gold (three and eight per cent); and platinum five and 10 per cent).

These certifications are becoming increasingly important to companies that are looking for buildings that are more environmentally-friendly, said Von.

Read more: Green building fever fast spreading in Malaysia http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/gregre/Article/index_html#ixzz2lnYwb4Bm

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Solar Cooker- New Cooking Style for Sustainable living

Buying charcoal and set up your barbecue grill to cook your chicken wings, hot dogs , corns and etc on the top of charcoal ashes during your outing consider "outdated" today with the emerging of  Portable Solar Cooker. 

Recently, my friend had demonstrated how we can harvest the solar energy to heat and grill our food with the ready made Solar Cooker.

This solar cooker is using direct heating method via  parabolic reflectors and you can make your own "solar coffee & tea", BBQ, Sandwich & ham, Soup, popcorn &nuts etc.with zero carbon emission & electricity.

The great advantages for this solar cooker are environment  friendly and no burning charcoal / electricity and we don't worry much on charcoal ashes sticking on our foods as well.

Set up your folderable solar cooker under the hot sun,   BBQ cooking style take about 10-30 mins to serve the food while boiling water to make your own cup of coffee or tea is taking about 15-25 mins. The maximum cooking temperature can reach up to 300 Degree Celsius.

Several modes selector switches for different temperature will ease you from overcook or burnt the food.

Time to refine our cooking method in more sustainable way!

  • No smoke
  • No hazard
  • No Harm
  • No open flame
  • No Burning charcoal
  • Saving Electricity bill if you using induction cooker/ hot plate
Remark for safe operating solar cooker :
  1. Watch out the hot cover. Wear kitchen while getting your food.
  2. Do not use in strong wind condition
  3. Kids are prohibited to use solar cooker
Related Interesting Post:

Thursday, November 21, 2013

MyPOWER expects 25pc tariff rise in 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: Electricity tariffs could be raised by up to 25 per cent for heavily-subsidised sectors, a top industry executive said.


The maximum quantum will only affect heavy industrial users such as steelmakers and glove manufacturers.

Commercial users such as retailers and enterprises should pay for smaller increases, while those consuming less than 200 kilowatt hour (kW/h) will not see any rises.

The hike, which may be announced by early 2014, is to ensure that the power sector is sustainable, more efficient and free of market-distorting subsidies.

MyPOWER Corp chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Majid said the potential hike is needed to close the gap between the true cost of generating power and current subsidised tariffs. 

"We have presented our proposal to the Cabinet and it is up to the government on when it wants to hike the tariffs. It could be in January, February, or March next year. 

"The government would have to look at other proposals such as from Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Bhd), the Energy Commission, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and others before it can make a decision," Abdul Razak said at a media briefing, here, yesterday. 

Malaysia's power sector has long been inefficient with consumers and industries paying subsidised prices. 

Petronas sells gas to TNB to generate electricity at subsidised prices of RM13.70 per MMBtu (million metric British thermal units) whereby the actual international market price is RM43 per MMBtu' This means the oil national oil corporation is subsidising about RM20 billion. 

The current average cost of power generation is 30.9 sen per kW/h and it is sold to domestic consumers, commercial users and industrial powerhouses at an average subsidised price of 33.5 sen per kW/h. 

However, the actual true cost of power generation, including transmission and distribution, is 42 sen per kW/h compared with the current tariff of 33.5 sen per kW/h. 

The cost of transmission and distribution of 8.5 sen is not inclusive, representing a 26 per cent shortfall. This makes the government subsidise the gap to the tune of RM12 billion a year. 

The Philippines and Thailand sell electricity at 58 sen per kW/h and 48 sen per kW/h, respectively. 

MyPOWER is a special purpose agency created to detail out the key reforms of the electricity supply industry in the next four or five years so that projects aligned with the Government and Economic Transformation Programmes can be implemented smoothly. 


Read more: MyPOWER expects 25pc tariff rise in 2014 http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20131121003019/Article/index_html#ixzz2lEvQDu2f

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Solar Fuel Tank

Free! Non Fossil Energy

  • Not Affected by Rising Tariff Rate
  • Not Affected by Fuel Supply Shortage
  • Environment Friendly and Safe..

Friday, November 1, 2013

Clean Energy Vs Dirty Energy


Tainted water pours into containment pond in an Unity field processing facility in South Sudan.
Transform our energy in clean energy by using 8x235Wp solar panel made from TianWei China for your clean cooking energy and say no to dirty energy.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Friday, October 18, 2013

Mobile Solar Generator


How to use your iphone & ipad in the green way? 150W mobile solar generator is one of the solution.
40Wp solar power (PV) completed with mobile solar generator, you can freely charging your iphone & ipad and light up your lamp even you are in the middle of jungle or away from electricity source. Say no more blackout to your iphone and let the solar power working hard for you !


Saturday, October 12, 2013

Toyota Prius's Smart Driving Fuel Saving


Toyota Prius's Smart driving Fuel Saving, 3.8litre/100km from Kajang to Kuala Lumpur

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

TNB to build 2 coal-fired power

GEORGE TOWN: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will build two
high-technology 1,000 MW coal-fired power plants in Manjung, Perak to meet the increasing demand for electricity.

Its vice president of generation Zainuddin Ibrahim said the two projects will start soon and will be completed within the next four years.

He said power consumption is expected to increase by five per cent annually and the two projects are in the company's pipeline.

"The two projects in Manjung are mainly for domestic usage and are expected to be completed in 2017," he told reporters after launching the 3rd Annual Asian Sub-Bituminous Coal User Group Conference here today.


Zainuddin said on average, Malaysia consumes about 15,000 to 16,000 MW of power daily, with the figure expected to increase annually. 

He said TNB's power generation ratio is 35-40 per cent from coal-fired power plants, 50 per cent from natural gas and the remainder from renewable energy. 

"Our aim is to give the most cost-efficient supply of electricity," he said. 

However, Zainuddin said, coal is one of Malaysia's most important sources of energy, and over 80 per cent of coal in Malaysia is imported from Indonesia, South Africa and Australia. 

"We consume about 42 million tonnes of coal annually and the trend will continue to increase," he said. 

He said Asia is the biggest market for coal for power plants, accounting for 67 per cent of worldwide demand. 

"Over 7.8 billion tonnes of coal were consumed in the world last year with annual growth of 2.9 per cent," he said. 

Over 140 industry professionals from 15 countries including Malaysia, the US, UK, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Russia are participating at the four-day conference starting yesterday. It is hosted by TNB for the first time.-- Bernama

Read more: TNB to build 2 coal-fired power plants http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20131001131850/Article/index_html#ixzz2gRw6JCTV

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Malaysia's Gasoline Un-dependent Solar Power Electric Modenas Motorcycle

Pollution Free Electric Modenas Motorcycle can recharge in three hours time and travels 20KM each time charging.
Simple and Functional solution to reduce petrol subsidy from government and environment friendly

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Explore Econation Center Panasonic Malaysia

The ECONATION CENTER, an old bungalow that has been transformed into a state-of-the-art eco-conscious house, has opened up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In this showroom, visitors can experience new lifestyles Panasonic proposes such as its energy solutions right in the home environment.
A green and comfortable lifestyle of the future. Please take a look at the eco ideas Panasonic introduces in Malaysia.

Click the below link for youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtTkdzYHQ9c

US$100m Green Tech fund launched

Malaysia has partnered with Japan-based Asian Energy Investments Pte Ltd (AIE) in a US$100 million investment mega-fund to seed promising new ideas and innovators in Southeast Asia.

In a joint statement today, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and New York Academy of Sciences said a Malaysia-based fund management company, Putra Eco Ventures Inc, will be established.

"The company will channel the investments and provide business consultancy services to green technology companies," it said, adding that the fund would focus on investments in small-to mid-sized technologies and enterprises.

Science Advisor to the Prime Minister Prof Datuk Seri Zakri Abdul Hamid said the new green energy venture capital fund was a wise investment in developing a family of new technologies able to draw and store energy from renewable, inexhaustible sources such as the sun, wind or tides. 

"Demand for these products and businesses will be again driven by consumer convenience, cost advantage and environmental necessity, and logic dictates that they will eventually trumps non-renewable fossil fuels in global markets short years or decades from now," he said. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak presided at the announcement, made at a meeting in San Francisco of the Prime Minister’s Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC), made up of distinguished leading global sustainable development experts. 

The fund management company will also be charged with helping revive Malaysian biodiesel plants idled by sharp increases in the price of crude palm oil, on which the plants depend for feedstock, investigating cheaper biodiesel feedstocks, including municipal waste and waste oil palm biomass. 

Malaysia’s interest in the new fund will be managed by MIGHT, 
represented by its wholly-owned subsidiary, MIGHT Technology Nurturing Sdn Bhd. 

AEI is an offshore investment arm of Industrial Decisions Inc. of Japan, which is under the umbrella of Mizuho Financial Group. 

The announcements conform with advice offered by leading development experts on Malaysia’s Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council, who consider investments in green energy as the top priority for countries looking to move up the world’s financial ranks.-- Bernama

Read more: US$100m Green Tech fund launched http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130924111713/Article/index_html#ixzz2fmnssuyh

Friday, September 20, 2013

Going Green: Experience Charging Modenas Electric Motorcycle using solar power after two years


After two years on, Modenas Electric Motorcycle is running almost 3,181km mileage and fueled by my home rooftop solar power.

By making a concentrate effort, I have reduced the fossil fuel 100% via 1.5kW Off Grid Solar Powered Charging Station.

Moving forward, my little small step hopefully will make bigger changes for our future generation!!

My Previous Post

Using Solar to Charge up your Modenas-Electric Bike


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Bank Muamalat rolls out solar PV finance package

Islamic financier Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd yesterday announced the rolling out of the country’s first-ever Shariah-compliant solar photovoltaic (PV) financing scheme valued between RM20 million and RM30 million within the next 2-3 years.

Deputy CEO Musa Abdul Malek said that for the first year, the bank may disburse from RM10 million to RM15 million of the funds to 1,000 homeowners, who will be fitting their homes with solar PV systems, which will be grid connected and reap from the country’s solar PV Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) system.

However, he said the Smart Green Mortgage Solar PV FiT Plan with its design based on the murabahah structure, is a mortgage plan that does not a have a high-end margin for the bank with a mere 1% yield. “It is to make sure that people have sufficient cashflow to meet up with their own requirements,” he said.

Murabahah is an Islamic finance model that supports loans on physical objects (assets) such as property and vehicles.

Musa commented the bank’s decision to embark on this venture to offer solar PV finance packaging is in line with the Islamic philosophy to care for the environment.

The package is possibly the first such scheme available among Asean and Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries.

“Even in Middle East countries there is not much activity in generating solar,” he said.

Musa pointed out the package gives its customers a return on investment of up to 16% annually through its estimated average annual revenue of RM580 on the four kilowatt peak (kWp) solar PV system, depending on the installation type, size and location. The monthly income generated through this for the next 21 years will be credited directly by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) into the homeowner’s savings/ current account maintained with Bank Muamalat.

The plan is in line with the implementation of the FiT mechanism introduced under the Renewable Energy Act 2011 and administered by Sustainable Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA), enabling Malaysians to generate electricity from renewable resources while earning a fixed income for up to 21 years by selling electricity to TNB’s grid.

The Bank Muamalat package for solar PV is the second in the Malaysian market after Alliance Bank announced its solar financing package in June.

According to SEDA Malaysia CEO Badriyah Malek, another four banks are currently in discussion with the authorities and are expected to follow suit in introducing similar packages soon.

Badriyah and Musa spoke to the media after the launch of the Bank Muamalat package at SEDA Malaysia office recently, together with the soft launch of SEDA Malaysia’s 2nd International Sustainable Energy Summit (ISES) 2014. Both events were inaugurated by Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri DiRaja Mahdzir Khalid.

source:http://themalaysianreserve.com/main/columns/69-savemoney/4325--bank-muamalat-rolls-out-solar-pv-finance-package

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

EKONOMI Tesco rancang kurangkan pelepasan gas karbon dioksida

Tesco Stores Malaysia Sdn Bhd menyasar untuk mengurangkan sehingga 50 peratus pelepasan gas karbon dioksida dari semua pasar rayanya menjelang 2020 menerusi kaedah penggunaan tenaga lebih cekap. 

Ketika ini, syarikat peruncitan dari Britain itu telah mengurangkan pelepasan gas karbon dioksida di 47 pasar raya serta dua pusat pengedarannya (DC) di negara ini sehingga 25 peratus. 
Pengurus Tenaga dan Penyejukannya, Kathleen Teh, berkata pihaknya menggariskan empat inisiatif yang akan diguna pakai bagi mencapai sasaran itu. 


Inisiatif berkenaan ialah pencahayaan, pendingin hawa, penyejukan dan elektrikal serta pelan sikap yang mula dilaksanakan di semua pasar raya Tesco. 

“Bagi inisiatif pencahayaan, Tesco akan menukar lampu pendarfluor T5 kepada lampu LED yang mampu menjimatkan penggunaan tenaga hingga 42 peratus secara berperingkat dalam tempoh dua tahun ini. 

“Sementara, bagi inisiatif pendingin hawa pula, syarikat bercadang memasang mesin kawalan pendingin hawa yang mampu mengawal penggunaan pendingin hawa secara automatik. 

“Setakat ini, kami sudah memasang mesin ini di 28 pasar raya Tesco membabitkan pelaburan RM7.5 juta dan ia dijangka mampu menjimatkan penggunaan tenaga antara satu hingga tiga peratus sebulan,” katanya kepada BH dalam satu pertemuan di Kuala Lumpur. 
Teh berkata, walaupun kadar satu hingga tiga peratus dilihat kecil, realitinya ia mampu menyumbang kepada penjimatan ketara kerana 60 peratus daripada jumlah bil elektrik di pasar raya itu setiap bulan disumbangkan oleh penggunaan pendingin hawa. 

“Sebagai contoh, pendingin hawa di pasar raya Tesco di Kepong menggunakan lebih sejuta kilowatt setiap bulan dan jika ia dapat dikurangkan walaupun hanya tiga peratus, ia sudah memadai,” katanya. 

Bagi inisiatif pelan sikap yang juga dikenali sebagai Energy Hot House, ia dilaksanakan sebagai perintis di Tesco Puchong dan berjaya mengurangkan 3.8 peratus penggunaan tenaga yang bersamaan dengan RM8,600 sebulan dalam bil elektrik sekali gus melepasi sasaran ditetapkan iaitu dua peratus. 

“Kini, inisiatif ini yang turut mendapat kerjasama daripada pasukan Tesco United Kingodom sudah dilaksanakan di semua cawangan Tesco dan DC di Malaysia sejak Julai lalu,” katanya.


http://www.bharian.com.my/articles/Tescorancangkurangkanpelepasangaskarbondioksida/Article/

Go directly to the third way! (From Japan)


Interesting idea from Japan for sustainable life..
Go Directly to the Third Way..Pls click the below link..

http://www.japanfs.org/en/manga/pages/033044.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

Thursday, September 5, 2013

PM's Office will be a certified green building Read more: PM's Office will be a certified green building

KUALA LUMPUR: KFM Holdings has partnered with Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, to transform the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) into a certified green building. 
The project, worth RM110 million is expected to complete in May 2014. 
It is estimated that the PMO retrofitting project can save up to RM2 million energy savings per annum.

Read more: PM's Office will be a certified green building http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130905150302/Article/index_html#ixzz2e062qJUG

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Higher electricity bills likely

BY CECILIA KOK 

   
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KUALA LUMPUR: Electricity bills are likely to go up as the Government is expected to reduce subsidies for natural gas in its bid to improve Malaysia’s fiscal position.
“The subsidy bill for the power sector has been creeping up … if the Government doesn’t do anything, the subsidy bill would go higher and higher,” MyPower Corpchief executive officer Datuk Abdul Razak Majid said at a media briefing yesterday.
The last electricity tariff hike took effect in June 2011 when the subsidised gas price was raised to RM13.70 per million metric British thermal unit (mmbtu) from RM10.70 per mmbtu previously.
MyPower, a special-purpose agency set up to drive reforms in the Malaysian electricity supply industry, said subsidies for the country’s power sector alone cost the Government around RM8bil to RM12bil per year, depending on the prevailing input fuel prices.
Natural gas, which currently accounts for about 50% of the power-generation fuel mix in Peninsular Malaysia, is sold to the local power sector at a subsidised rate of RM13.70 per mmbtu, although the market price of fuel has already tripled.
“The Government’s plan is to move towards market-based prices. But it is also conscious of how this move is going to impact customers, so the key decision is whether to slow down the process or move at a faster pace,” Abdul Razak said.
He noted that higher gas prices had made subsidies unsustainable and that the prospects of having to import liquefied natural gas at market rates to alleviate the country’s energy supply challenges had only added to the woes.
According to MyPower, if fuel subsidies were to be gradually removed, then the true cost of power would exceed 40 sen per kilowatt-hour (kwh), compared with the current rate of 33.54 sen/kwh.
While gas is supplied at subsidised prices, coal, which accounts for about 40% of the power-generation fuel mix in Peninsular Malaysia, is procured at market rates. Any change in the two fuels will have a direct impact on the cost of electricity.
On that note, Abdul Razak said the principles of the fuel-cost pass through mechanism had already been worked out. Under this mechanism, fuel cost would be reviewed every six months and any changes (upward or downward) in the cost due to fluctuations in fuel prices (gas, coal and oil) would be passed through in the end-user tariff.
The fuel-cost pass through mechanism is a significant component under the proposed Incentive-Based Regulation tariff framework.
According to Abdul Razak, the framework must be implemented first before the fuel-cost pass through mechanism can take effect.
He revealed that there were plans by the Energy Commission and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to do a pilot run for the Incentive-Based Regulation tariff framework from next month to identify issues or discrepancies that need to be ironed out.
“Hopefully, after one year of the pilot run, they can launch the programme proper,” Abdul Razak said.
Under the framework, TNB’s transmission and distribution network’s yearly performance will be benchmarked against a set of performance targets. The electricity tariffs, and hence, TNB’s returns, will then be adjusted based on achieving those performance targets.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

When to Replace Toyota Prius's Remote Control (Alarm) Battery Transmitter?


Frequent Switching On/Off of car remote control by driver will drain the remote control battery in fast state especially for those who always on the move.

Environment friendly car such Toyota Prius is using 3V Litium Metal battery for the remote control battery transmitter.

Where can we buy this Litium Metal battery for Prius remote control? We can get the spare part from any Toyota Service Center Malaysia at the cost of RM43.70/unit and it is expected to last about 30 Months (if shows any sign of intermittent problem).

For those who are practicing preventive maintenance, you are encourage to replace the Prius Remote Control Battery within 24 month to avoid any unpleasant experience happen during your trip.



Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Sustainable Energy Development Authority seeks extra 1% levy

   
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PUTRAJAYA: The Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) is seeking an additional 1% levy to the renewable energy (RE) fund, on top of the current 1% imposed in electricity bills, according to CEO Datin Badriyah Abdul Malek.
“We’re looking at a maximun 1% levy that could increase the RE fund size to spur more development in the RE sector. The RE fund is the lifeline of Feed-in-Tariff (FiT),” she said at Seda’s Raya open house in Putrajaya yesterday.
Under the Renewable Energy Act 2011, individuals or non-individuals can sell electricity generated from RE resources to power utility firms at a fixed premium price for a specified time. The four RE resources that are eligible for FiT are biogas, biomass, small hydropower and solar photovoltaic (PV).
The current 1% levy to cover costs associated with the FiT scheme translates to about RM300mil a year. The 1% levy, which took effect in December 2011, is imposed on all users, except for domestic customers who consume less than 300 kilowatt-hours (kwh) or equivalent to RM77 a month.
When the additional 1% levy is imposed, the same group of consumers will have to pay 2% levy for FiT.
Badriyah disclosed Seda had spoken to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry on the potential review and that it was work in progress.
She said although Seda had received an in-principle approval for the 2% levy, the extra 1% was in the Government’s hands.
According to Badriyah, the initial RM300mil fund size has been committed to feed in approval holders (FiAHs) for the next 21 years.
“The money has been locked in. This is to ensure that there is money to pay the FiAHs,” she said, adding that Seda was also looking at various ways to top up the RE fund.
The Act also requires the management and utilisation of the RE fund to be reported and tabled in Parliament annually for the public to scrutinise the information.
Badriyah said the past 20 months had been a “volatile” period for Seda, which had managed a substantial growth in RE.
So far the agency has disbursed some RM44mil to the FiAHs. As of July 31, Seda had approved RE capacity of 509.75 MW, of which 112.44 MW are connected to the grid.
Meanwhile, Seda will be releasing 1,500kW of solar PV quota to individuals in three batches. The first 500kW quota for individuals under the Solar Home Rooftop Programme will be released today, followed by another 500kW on Sept 4 and Sept 11 at noon.
“There will be no more releases of any solar PV quota for individuals for 2013 after Sept 11 because it is not realistic for these individual FiAHs to be able to achieve commercial operation of their PV system by the year-end,” Badriyah said.
She said that any renewable energy projects that were supposed to achieve commercial operation by this year but failed to do so would incur further degression to their FiT rate as stipulated in their FiA certificate.
It is thus important for all FiAHs to note that for solar PV for individuals the degression rate is 8% while for non-individuals it is 20%.
Effective today, solar PV quota for the individual will be applicable only for residential premises under individual names only to prevent any potential abuse of solar PV quota for individuals.
Badriyah said Seda would be strict in approving applications and reminded interested FiA applicants to comply with all the necessary requirements.
Meanwhile, Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia chairman S. Supramaniam opined that Seda should explain to the public what it had done with the 1% levy before seeking an extra 1%.
“We don’t even know what they (Seda) have done with the 1%. Show us how well you have done with the 1%,” he told StarBiz.
Furthermore, he said there was limited consultation with the public on the levy.
He also said information on the initial 1% levy was not properly disseminated to the public.
Supramaniam noted that the clean energy domain should rest with the Government and that it should pay for it.