SARAWAK Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Hazland Abang Hipni said the state aims to build the capacity to generate 8GW of energy via hydroelectric plants by 2030.

He said the move will help the state meet future industrial needs and support its hydrogen economy agenda.

He said the target can be achieved via floating solar energy farms in hydroelectric plants to up power generation.

“Our current energy capacity is insufficient, especially for the hydrogen industry in the future, which would require a lot of energy.

“This 8GW target can be achieved with floating solar (plants). We will start at the Batang Ai dam soon and introduce a multilevel cascading dam,” he told a press conference in Kuching today.

On May 31, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg said hydropower will remain the main focus of Sarawak’s energy resources, and he suggested Sarawak Energy Bhd explore the construction of a hydropower dam in Sungai Trusan, Lawas.

Sarawak Energy’s first hydroelectric plant, the 108MW Batang Ai dam, was commissioned in 1985, followed by Bakun (2,400MW) in 2011 and Murum (944MW) in 2014.

The Baleh hydroelectric project, with an installed capacity of 1,285MW, is under construction and is set to be completed in 2027.

The total installed capacity of Sarawak Energy’s large hydropower plants is 3,452MW. – Bernama, August 3, 2023.