Increase demand for green tech to bring down cost

Published: Tuesday November 17, 2009 MYT 3:09:00 PM
Increase demand for green tech to bring down cost
By DHARMENDER SINGH

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will have to first have a plan to increase demand for renewable energy sources like solar panels if it is to truly promote the use of cheaper and more environment friendly power sources, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui.

Chin said the Government was serious about pursuing the use of renewable and efficient energy sources and the formation of the National Technology Council headed by the Prime Minister himself, that would meet in December for the first time, was proof of its commitment.

However the price of alternative power sources like solar or photovoltaic (PV) panels was still not low enough for a large portion of the people in Malaysia to use because, despite having several large manufacturers of such panels, local demand was still too small to allow for mass production.

“The solar PV industry can generate cumulative business revenues of more than RM560bil by 2020 or 4% of the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product), as well as turn Malaysia into a knowledge-based and high-technology manufacturing and services base capable of creating up to 100,000 jobs.

“But the only way to increase demand and allow mass production is by increasing awareness among the public on the benefits of using alternative power sources as well dispelling misguided notions that such options are expensive and low in efficiency,” he told a press conference after launching the Second National Photovoltaic Conference 2009 here on Tuesday.

Chin said progress had been made in the use of renewable energy in Malaysia despite having listed it as fifth fuel source in 2001, but things were set to change further with the allocation of RM1.5bil for green technology under Budget 2010.

“We have also finalised the new National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan which we will unveil after it is endorsed by the Cabinet, hopefully next month.

“With this I hope renewable energy will play a prominent role in our future energy mix and contribute significantly to our future economic development,” he said.

He said the Government was aiming to have 5% of the power in the country coming from various renewable sources, apart from hydro-electric plants, by the year 2050.

While it seemed like a modest target, he said, the Government was taking into account that it would take time for the people to turn to such power options.

World Council for Renewable Energy general chairman Dr Hermann Scheer, who was also at the press conference, said that even Germany had experienced a slow start when it first started to move towards introducing renewable energy sources several decades ago, although now it was known as one the most advanced in its use.

He said the percentage of increase in the use of PV and other sources of renewable energy would increase annually and once it had gained momentum, it would be possible to have entire communities running completely on them as could be seen in various places in Germany.

Chin said he also hoped that developers would play a part in promoting the use of solar panels by installing them in the houses they constructed and also called on people to demand such added features when they purchased such properties.