Largest battery energy storage system provides solar expansion
Published on: Monday, April 28, 2025
Published on: Mon, Apr 28, 2025 Text Size: Terrence and Md Yaakob. SABAH Electricity Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said they hope to commission our largest battery energy storage system with 400 megawatt hours in two months. 'This storage will provide room for expansion in the solar. So, that is giving flexibility to ECoS to give more room to industry players to bring more solar into the system,' he said. 'Sarawak is only 50 megawatt and 60 megawatt hours, while ours will be 400 megawatt hours,' he said pointing out that Sabah's battery system will be much bigger than neighbouring Sarawak. Mohd Yaakob noted that Sabah's energy landscape has changed tremendously over the years. 'When we started in 1984, there was zero gas power plant. We mainly relied on oil for power generation. Until now we still use about 10 per cent of oil in Sabah. 'Back then, about 32 per cent of Sabah's energy came from renewable sources, mainly the Tenom Pangi hydroelectric station which is still operating today. 'The shift to cleaner energy began in 1998 when they built a natural gas power plant in Sepanggar. 'Even today, we still rely heavily on the gas. We are not saying that gas is renewable, but it is cleaner and most important for now for Sabahans is that it is affordable to our customers,' Yaakob said. Currently, about 90 per cent of Sabah is connected to the power grid. Every day, about 250 megawatts of electricity is transferred across the State, mostly from gas power plants, which Yaakob noted are very cost-effective. While solar is leading Sabah's renewable energy push, they are also developing other clean energy sources, particularly hydropower. Two major projects are in development, the Upper Padas project (187 megawatts) and the Oriole Hydro Padas project in Sipitang (162 megawatts). 'We recently signed a power purchase agreement with Jentayu Sustainables Bhd subsidiary Oriole Hydro Padas Sdn Bhd for its 162MW run-of-river hydropower development,' Yaakob said. 'We are targeting to complete the project by end of 2028,' he said, adding that Sabah Electricity is one of the shareholders also in the consortium for the 162-megawatt runoff river as a plan. 'We are focusing on building and strengthening the grid with the Southern Link Phase 1 to support the Oriole Hydro at 162 megawatts plus the Upper Padas at 187 megawatts. 'We are currently building another highway, 275 KB from Beaufort to Papar, and going towards Kota Kinabalu,' he said. He said the government is also looking into wind energy potential in Kudat. 'Next month, we are going to China looking into that technology. Hopefully, if feasible, then we can have our first wind turbine,' he added. He said geothermal energy is also being considered, though its development depends on how expensive drilling would be. 'We are an off-taker. Frankly speaking, we are not able to pay for any developer without any government assistance. Even to the smallest rooftop. If there is no FIT scheme, we cannot do it,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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