The Sarawak state-owned Energy company, Sarawak Energy Bhd (Sarawak Energy) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shell MDS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Shell MDS) to explore opportunities in lower-cost hydrogen production technology via electrolysis. The MoU includes a joint study by the two parties and knowledge exchange on hydrogen production technology, promoting education and drawing up best practices in the area. It also includes exploring opportunities for green certification in hydrogen production.
This MoU is a follow-up to the pilot hydrogen production plant and refueling station project by Sarawak Energy which is scheduled to be ready in time for a test run of three hydrogen-powered buses by the first quarter of 2019.
The pilot facility, the first such plant in South East Asia, lays the foundation for research on the commercial viability of a hydrogen economy for Sarawak through the production, delivery, storage and utilization of this ‘fuel of the future’.
Sarawak’s renewable hydropower stands at 75% of the state’s power generation mix currently. Promoting renewable hydropower is in line with the state’s aspiration to use less carbon-based Energy, given that producing hydrogen from the grid will be less fossil-fuel intensive.
(Sources: The New Straits Times; The Borneo Post; Sarawak Energy)
