KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has the potential to lead in decarbonising existing and future power plants and further embrace transformative technologies and sustainable practices in 2024.
According to GE Vernova, the new independent energy company that will spin off from General Electric (GE) come 2024, the positive outlook is based on the government’s active and continuous engagement in bilateral agreements to enhance cross-border collaborations for energy efficiency.
GE Vernova vice president of global sourcing and logistics Raj Thakkar said the recent emphasis worldwide on uncovering innovative energy sources, such as hydrogen and carbon capture and sequestration, is also in line with Malaysia’s new direction of developing a robust, competitive hydrogen economy by 2050.
He said as a major producer and exporter of gas for Asia, Malaysia could unlock pathways to cleaner and greener energy sources by aiming to decrease carbon lock-in for its power generation needs.
“Hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration (CCUS) represent promising solutions that can significantly contribute to achieving these decarbonisation goals.
“By looking to adopt these technologies further, Malaysia can reduce its carbon footprint and play a crucial part in mitigating climate change in the region,” he told the New Straits Times.
Raj Thakkar said these opportunities could be well supported by GE Vernova, which can leverage its deep technical expertise across diverse and emerging power generation technologies and also establish long-standing partnerships with local Malaysian organisations.
“While GE Vernova acknowledges the importance of these new national goals and is actively advancing the relevant technologies, we also recognise that Malaysia is a significant producer of gas and liquefied natural gas.
“Gas will hence continue to be critical in meeting Malaysia’s energy demand and economic growth today and tomorrow,” Raj Thakkar said.
He said GE Vernova will unite different business components, including power, wind, electrification and digital services, to offer combined capabilities that chart clearer paths for Malaysia to more reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.
The new entity remains committed to working with the Malaysian government and local companies to ensure a consistent and sustainable power supply as the nation continues its energy transition, especially with the latest announcements of the two national roadmaps.
Raj Thakkar said GE had partnered with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) since it first provided the latter with its gas turbine technology for the country’s first combined cycle power plant in 1984.
“We are encouraged by TNB’s leadership in leading the implementation of the energy transition for Malaysia with its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, backed with a goal of 8,300 megawatts of renewable energy generation by 2025.
“The formation of GE Vernova only further reinforces the commitment to our partnership with TNB and will also bring in a broader and more unified energy portfolio that includes hydro, wind and other renewable sources for Malaysia,” Raj Thakkar said.
Further, he said as GE Vernova gears up towards becoming an independent energy company in 2024, it believes the right approach to optimising energy affordability, reliability and sustainability, whether for Malaysia or the whole of Asia, is enabling the accelerated deployment of renewable energy and gas power in tandem with collaborative industry partnerships and supportive government policies.
He said the Sultan Ibrahim power plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor is one example of how GE Vernova works with partners from Malaysia’s public and private sectors and across borders.
Safely constructed with the support and expertise of Taiwanese partner CTCI Corporation and operated by Southern Power Generation Sdn Bhd, the Sultan Ibrahim plant is powered by twin GE 9HA.02 gas turbines that are energy efficient and can be configured for low-carbon hydrogen fuel blends.
Alongside plant services and digital solutions from GE Vernova, the Sultan Ibrahim plant will power about three million homes in Malaysia.
Raj Thakkar said another example would be Edra Energy’s Melaka power plant.
Situated in Melaka, it has become Southeast Asia’s largest combined cycle plant and produces 2,242 megawatts of electricity using three GE 9HA.02 gas turbines, supporting up to 10 per cent of Malaysia’s electricity needs.
“Beyond enabling cost-efficient and reliable power for Malaysia, GE Vernova also recognises the immense potential for improving power efficiency through integrating digital technologies and intelligent software.
“By harnessing the power of ongoing developments in artificial intelligence, GE Vernova can empower Malaysia’s national grid operations with advanced predictive capabilities, enabling proactive measures to prevent issues before they occur. GE Vernova aims to play a pivotal role in Asia and Malaysia’s sustainable energy journey in terms of growth and supplier base.
“We have a huge focus in this region on building a strong and sustainable business.”We are committed to strengthening ties with existing suppliers and forging new relationships to drive stronger long-term partnerships for the future,” Raj Thakkar said.
Source – NST