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THE federal government has pledged its full support for Sarawak's efforts to accelerate its energy transition, with a particular focus on increasing the state's renewable energy (RE) capacity to 15 gigawatts (GW) by 2035.
This ambitious goal also includes Sarawak's aspiration to emerge as a regional leader in hydrogen production.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof expressed the government's commitment to Sarawak’s energy ambitions, emphasising that the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) will play a key role in aligning the state’s renewable energy initiatives with national development objectives.
“Sarawak’s energy transition plans, including its renewable energy generation and supply strategies, are integral to the broader national agenda. We are working closely with Sarawak’s regulatory bodies and stakeholders to ensure these initiatives are successfully implemented,” Fadillah stated during a session in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was responding to a query from Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong), who asked about the federal government's support for Sarawak’s vision to become a major renewable energy hub in Southeast Asia.
According to media reports, Sarawak's hydrogen production hub is expected to be operational by 2027. This facility will involve collaboration with international partners, including South Korea, a key player in the hydrogen industry, which is set to be a primary consumer of the state's hydrogen output.
Fadillah also outlined the federal government's strategies to boost renewable energy use nationwide. One of the key initiatives is the development of large-scale solar power plants under the Large-Scale Solar (LSS) programme, which forms part of the goal to achieve 40% renewable energy use by 2035.
In addition to large-scale solar projects, the government is promoting solar energy adoption through various programs, including Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Solar for Self-Consumption (SelCo), which encourage businesses and households to install solar systems on rooftops.
Fadillah further highlighted the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), a programme enabling green electricity consumers to directly fund the development of renewable energy power plants. Other initiatives include non-solar energy generation projects under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and the Low Carbon Energy Generation programmes.
The federal government’s backing underscores its determination to support Sarawak’s transition to a sustainable energy future while positioning the state as a key player in the regional and global renewable energy market. - February 20, 2025