TNB Increases Purchase Price Of Electricity Produced From Biomass Waste

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- To encourage the private sector to generate energy from biomass resources, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has increased the purchase price of electricity produced from palm oil biomass waste to 21 sen per kilowatt hour from 19 sen now.

"The new price structure, under the Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement (REPPA), will be implemented immediately," Minister of Enegry, Water and Communications, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, said at the press conference after launching the Renewable Energy Roadshow here.

Dr Lim said the new price structure would help address the nagging problem of project viability and bankability.

"The uptake of renewable energy-generated electricity is also expected to increase significantly with the new price structure," he said.

He said the generation of electricity from palm oil biomass was one way the millers could contribute to a cleaner environment through the proper disposal of the empty fruit bunches and the palm oil effluent.

"Under the clean development mechanism (CDM), they can get paid by being part of the environmental-friendly process of power generation using biomass.

"With the increasing price, better REPPA and more money from CDM, renewable energy will become a viable project," he said.

Dr Lim said under the 9th Malaysian Plan, the government aimed to achieve the installation of 300 megawatt (MW) and 50MW of grid-connected electric power from renewable energy sources in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, respectively.

He urged the private sector to increase the share of renewable energy in the fuel mix of the country as only 12MW of renewable energy were generated so far.