Malaysia's renewable energy implementation on track for September

Malaysia's Renewable Energy Act is on track to be implemented on September 1, upon the setting up of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority.

This was revealed by the Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

"The industry is keen on the implementation of the Act, and many people even wanted the Act to be in effect immediately. Unfortunately SEDA is only able to function in September, with the Act approved by the cabinet to be in effect then," he said after the launching ceremony for the 2011 MCCC-Country Heights Environmental Green Award.

"I will be announcing the Director General for SEDA early next month," he said.

Under the Act, SEDA will manage the Feed-in-Tariff programme and also the development of the renewable energy industry in the country.

The much awaited FiT will enable the public, ranging from individuals to independent power producers to sell energy generated via renewable means back to the utility companies, which are mandated to buy the energy at a rate gazetted in the Act.

"Under the SREP, power producers could only get 21 sen per kilowatt, while now people who produce power using solar panels can get rates as high as RM1.25 per kW," Chin said.

However, he said the one per cent levy imposed on power consumers which will contribute to the Renewable Energy Fund to further develop the industry, may not be enough, citing that entry cost into the industry is still high.

The full story is available at Bernama.