Sarawak exports 130MW of electricity to neighbours

SARAWAK Energy has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with nine independent power producers (IPPs) for solar projects with a combined capacity of 1,450 megawatts (MW).

Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said the projects comprise eight ground-mounted solar schemes and one floating solar project at several locations.

“In line with the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), the state continues to expand new renewable energy development through hydro, solar, Cascading Power Sources (CPS), Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) and biomass,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech here today (Oct 19).

For PSH, studies are under way in Bakun, Murum and Padawan.

On CPS, he said 28 local and international companies had taken part in the Request for Proposal (RFP) for five river basins, namely Tutoh, Belaga, Danum, Balui and Gaat.

“All the applications are still in the first phase of evaluation,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme, Julaihi said 900 systems with a total capacity of 7MW are now in operation, up from only 40 systems in 2025.

Owners of landed residential properties without rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are eligible for subsidies of between RM8,000 and RM12,000, depending on the capacity installed.

For this purpose, Sarawak Energy has set aside RM10 million on a first come, first served basis for homeowners who install solar PV systems between Jan 1, 2025 and Dec 31, 2026, subject to conditions.

He added that five Photovoltaic Installation for Self-Consumption (SELCO) systems with a capacity of 1.6 megawatt peak (MWp) were already operating, while another 12 systems totalling 4.9MWp were being implemented.