Malaysian Govt launches solar energy panel programme for homes
Monday November 27, 2006
Source: The Star
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/27/nation/20061127150305&sec=nation
SUBANG JAYA: The public can start bidding to install a solar energy panel technology, which can generate electricity from the sunlight on the roofs of their new or existing homes and offices from Dec 1 until March 30 next year. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the Government had introduced the National Suria 1000 programme to equip the solar photovoltaic (PV) roofs in 1,000 houses in a move to educate the public on the potential of solar energy.
The programme provides financial discounts for homeowners who want to integrate the PV system in their homes. The bidders for the first call can bid to receive discounts as high as 75% of the price of the PV system and the Government through the Energy Commission will cover the discounts.
“If you complain electricity price is going up, I promise you it will go up and up and up. So turn to solar energy! “If you generate more electricity, we can buy electricity from you and pay you more. Not the Government of course, the utility company “ said Dr Lim when the opening of the International Energy Conference for Sustainable Asia and introduction of the National Suria programme here on Monday. He said the Government needed to find new ways to reduce the public’s dependence on natural gas, which currently formed about 70% of the country’s fuel mix.
Later at a press conference, Dr Lim said the solar panel technology could be hooked to the main national grid and allow the excess energy to be sold to Tenaga Nasional Bhd. “We are promoting solar energy power to let Malaysians know that you can invest in it not only for a single building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof which can generate enough electricity for the use of a terrace house which has one or two air-conditioner but also extra ones. “You can save a lot of money by using the solar panels.”
However, he said he expected that the response to the technology would be low initially because of its was expensive. “As more people use it, the price will come down,” he said adding that if it was required, manufacture could possibly reduce the price.
Pusat Tenaga Malaysia chief executive officer Dr Anuar Abdul Rahman said the cost of 1kWp of PV system was at least RM28,000 of which 30% of the cost was for installation. He said a household normally used between 3kWp and 5kWp. “We will train installers to be qualified to do the job to reduce the cost,” he said adding that Suria 1000 was targeting to install a minimum of 1,000kWp by 2010.