Renewable Energy

PPKSE 06/07 SAA

Wind energy

• Derived from movement of the air.• Caused by differences in atmospheric

temperature and rotation of the earth.• Depending on climate condition and

geographical topology, wind varies in intensity over a day, season or a year.

• Wind farm use turbines ti harness wind energy and generate electricity.

• Wind turbines usually have three blades.

• A single wind turbine typically can power 500 homes.

• The site must receive strong and steady wind throughout the year (>23km/h on average) and also close to electricity grid.

• Wind energy costs are directly related to available wind speeds.

Biomass energy

• Biomass refers to any organic matter on earth.

• In Malaysia, biomass resources are mainly from palm oil mill residues, bagasse, rice husks and wood/forest residues.

• Gasification is a recent technology of converting solid biomass into gas for use in a gas engine or a turbine to generate electricity.

• Application: palm oil industry at Keck Seng Bhd in Masai, Johor and food industry in Shah Alam

Hydropower

• Hydro-electric power is electricity produced from the kinetic energy of falling water.

• Water is held in a dam and allowed to flow through a turbine and generator to produce electricity.

• The amount of energy produced is determined by the height from which the water falls and its flow rate.

• Generation of hydropower does not produce any greenhouse gas emissions.

Cogeneration • Simultaneous production of two or more

forms of usable energy from a single energy source.

• A high efficiency energy system that produces both electricity and valuable heat from only one fuel source.

• Cogeneration cycle consist of:• Topping cycle – fuel used to produce

electrical energy first, then thermal energy.

• Bottoming cycle – fuel used to produce thermal energy then electrical energy.

Types of cogeneration plant

Ideal cogeneration site

• Requires reliable power• Has a relatively steady electrical and

thermal energy demand pattern• Has a higher demand for thermal energy

compared to electrical energy• Has a long operation hours in a year• Inaccessible to the grid

Cogeneration in Malaysia

• Has existed in Malaysia for long time, but more can be done.

• District cooling most common due to tropical climate.

• Licensing under purview of Ministry of Energy, Water & Communication.

Typical use of cogeneration in Malaysia