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Malaysia's energy intensity (GWh/GDP) shows an increasing trend since the 1990s, leading to the government's efforts to promote energy efficiency via policies such as the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), which includes the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) initiative. This paper reviews recent publications in industrial Combined Heat and Power (CHP) with a focus on international case studies relevant to Malaysian industries that use industrial steam and highlights trends within the research area. It also provides the basis for more case studies to be performed in the Malaysian industry to improve energy efficiency while also supporting further academic research in the area. Additionally, the paper documents the importance of data collection and analysis as well as demand forecasting, not only for a better understanding of industrial energy systems but also to increase profitability since system loads may vary throughout a typical year. A multi-criteria and comprehensive approach is recommended in future case studies to ensure energy efficiency, economic returns and environmental impact are considered to ensure long-term sustainability. A summary of barriers to CHP implementation in the industry is also included to provide a broad understanding of industrial CHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprehensively examines passive and active energy retrofit strategies as a highly effective approach for reducing building energy consumption and mitigating CO2 emissions while enhancing comfort and sustainability. The paper further examines energy simulation software and assesses the integration of renewable energy systems in building to improve energy efficiency. The review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, ensuring a rigorous and comprehensive analysis. In addition, the study utilized bibliometric analysis with VOSviewer to provide valuable insights into the research trends and influential publications in building energy retrofits. Bibliometric analysis reveals strong collaboration among 17 authors, emphasizing their significant contributions. Keywords like energy retrofitting and efficiency are prominent, indicating their importance in academic literature. Findings show passive strategies are more effective in reducing energy consumption, though a combined approach with active strategies can yield optimal results. Retrofitting presents challenges, such as substantial initial costs and regulatory barriers. User acceptance is crucial, considering potential disruptions. The review highlights the importance of energy simulation software, with tools like EnergyPlus, eQUEST, and IES VE identified for evaluating and identifying cost-effective retrofit measures in building performance. By providing comprehensive insights into the various strategies and tools available for retrofitting buildings to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability goals, this review serves as an authoritative resource for building owners, managers, and professionals in the building industry. It offers invaluable guidance for informed decision-making and facilitates implementing effective, energy-efficient, and sustainable building retrofitting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is one of the essential inputs for modernization and social development. Energy demand is increasing, and the primary energy source is fossil fuels, which negatively impact the environment. Energy saving and renewables are the potential solutions which could minimize environmental impact. This paper investigates the energy-saving and solar photovoltaic energy potential of an educational institution, Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah (PSAS), Malaysia. The feasibility analysis was conducted by assuming that PSAS joined the Net Energy Metering (NEM 3.0) program, where PSAS, as a NEM consumer, has a tripartite supply agreement with renewable energy (SARE) with a distribution licensee known as Tenaga National Berhad (TNB). This paper focuses on zero capital expenditure (CAPEX) saving through a 20-year contract. This paper proposes a rooftop solar photovoltaic diagram using a NEM meter installed in the ring distribution system at PSAS. The estimated savings to be obtained by PSAS in the 20 years that the contract is in force are calculated based on the assumption that the installed solar system has a capacity of 688 kW. The maximum value of power generated by the system for a year is 990,720 kWh. The feasibility analysis found that the cumulative net savings estimate for PSAS based on the overall calculation for 21 years of solar use is RM 3,534,250. Meanwhile, the cumulative assessment of carbon emission reduction obtained in the same period is 14,559,760 kg CO2 or 14,559.76 tons of CO2, which would save 363,994 mature trees from being cut down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts such as the Glasgow United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties 26, the Paris Agreement (Paris agreement, United Nations, Paris, 2015) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are supporting the drive to protect the planet from global warming by ensuring sustainable development. The oil and gas industry, as key contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, must transition to more sustainable energy solutions and play their part in reducing these emissions. Currently, oil and gas companies are implementing technical solutions to achieve net zero carbon emissions. The energy transition from fossil fuel reliance has also happened by exploiting alternative renewable energy sources to meet global energy demand such as wind, solar, biogas and bioderived feedstocks. This net zero energy transition will require a fair and just transition for all in society, and to implement this, it is crucial for those working in the oil and gas industry to understand the technologies needed, the importance of carbon policies and their roles. This research presents a modified Delphi study of employees in Malaysia's national oil and gas company to understand their perceptions towards a net-zero carbon future. The paper briefly reviews Malaysia's low-carbon policy plans, its current carbon dioxide accounting balance, and identifies potential technologies for decarbonisation to set the scene for the modified Delphi study. The results indicated that the national oil and gas company has both the capabilities and the financial resources to significantly contribute towards Malaysia transitioning to a carbon neutral nation. This can be achieved by implementing advanced technologies complementing with nature-based solutions to realise net zero carbon emissions. This study also portrays the confidence that the portfolio of solutions should be executed through a coordinated effort to maximise the outcome and minimise the financial impact in terms of economical sustainability. Implementation of activities towards this energy transition will require significant social commitment, and hence, gauging their perception towards this journey is key objective of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy demand in Malaysia has shown a dramatic increase over the last few years: with natural gas and coal being the primary contributors. Nevertheless, due to declining in fossil fuel reserves coupled with negative environmental impacts, shifting to sustainable renewable energy for meeting the future energy demand is recommended. Since Malaysia is rich with natural resources, utilization of biomass energy (bioenergy/biofuel) as the alternative energy is promising to be further explored. Therefore, this review paper intents to discuss the current scenario of different types of biomass energy in Malaysia along with the up-to-date local biomass energy–related environmental policy (from 2016 onwards). In addition, challenges and barriers for large-scale implementation of the biomass energy in Malaysia are to be discussed. Overall, this review paper is interesting as it can assist in promoting the biomass utilization as energy source, and to ensure the future growth of biomass energy market in the country along with its effective implementation while alleviating poor disposal problem and to create job employment opportunities. Furthermore, a collective effort to expand potential biomass feedstocks, apart from oil palm, should be emphasized to encourage the renewable energy production diversification in the nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced electricity demand through the implementation of an energy efficiency policy is a central pillar of the Malaysian government's energy strategy. Energy efficiency first emerged as part of Malaysia's energy policy agenda in 1979 but only came into force during the 2000s. Initially, it was seen from global fears about the shortage of fossil fuels, then as a way of combating climate change. This paper offers a comprehensive review of Malaysia's energy policies with a focus on adopting policies to improve energy efficiency. Starting with Malaysia's preliminary policy in response to the OPEC-driven global oil crisis in 1973, the paper discusses how policymakers are considering energy efficiency from Malaysia's sustainable development perspective and what relevant government efforts have been made to improve it. The review evaluates the progress that has been made over the past 25 years to address energy efficiency in the economy and highlights the achievements and remaining difficulties. Findings show that the level of energy efficiency while having shown improvement during 1990–2015 was lower than expected. In terms of electricity intensity of GDP, Malaysia has a relatively large position among the ASEAN countries and the world's largest electricity consumers. Researchers, scientists, and practitioners will benefit from the extensive review material of this study, which will help them better understand energy efficiency and the sustainability strategy implemented in Malaysia to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is one of the basic inputs and driving forces for economic and social development modernization. Sustainable energy supply is one of the major challenges in the modern world. Sustainable energy supply can be obtained through alternative energy sources, and efficient energy use is a high priority to optimize the environmental impact. This paper investigates the potential for energy savings involving five end-load equipment in academic institutions. The saving potential is obtained through energy efficiency analysis and feasibility analysis of the solar power generation systems. An energy audit is conducted on end-use consuming equipment (i.e., fans, lights, air conditioning, ICT equipment, etc.) in these five end-load sectors to find out the major energy-consuming equipment, energy consumption, and potential energy savings. The analysis of energy consumption per equipment helps determine the appropriate type of equipment to be upgraded and replaced for energy saving. The feasibility of rooftop solar power generation has been also analysed to integrate into the energy end load. The research findings confirm that laboratory equipment, lighting, and air conditioning are vital to energy consumption in academic buildings. The energy savings, bill savings, and carbon emissions reductions have been estimated based on integrating rooftop solar power generation. The feasibility analysis of onsite energy generation using a hybrid solar system found that the total energy-saving potential and bill savings within five years are 311,131 kWh and RM 113,563, respectively. This value refers to comprehensive energy-saving and bill for all academic buildings involved in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, significant changes have occurred in the consumer lifestyle and energy consumption structure. In order to foster a more holistic understanding of how residential consumers use energy in their everyday life and how it affects energy efficiency, individual data about energy-related behaviour in six primary areas, namely, housing, mobility, diet, consumption, leisure activities, and information, were studied. Specifically, the objective of this study is to investigate energy efficiency behaviour based on residential consumers' lifestyles. An exploratory pilot study with a total of 50 respondents was carried out in month of July. Data were collected from residential consumers from six states in Peninsular Malaysia and were analysed using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling approach. The result showed that consumption, housing, and information are the dominant direct contributors to energy efficiency. By understanding these lifestyles, researchers and policymakers can better understand consumer energy consumption behaviour and design targeted interventions to encourage energy efficiency and conservation. The paper highlights the need for further research on consumer lifestyles and their contribution to energy efficiency. It also provides findings from this study that was used to refine the research tools for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology is being looked at to solve numerous real-world problems that demand transparency by meeting sustainable goals. Do we ponder whether this technology is a boon or a bane for the environment? This paper analyses blockchain's dominant consensus method, Proof-of-Work (PoW), which consumes more energy than Malaysia and Sweden and further deteriorates the environment through carbon emissions. This study is the first systematic evaluation of PoW consensus-based blockchain applications' environmental consequences. We found 11 significant Theories, 6 Contexts, and 26 Methodologies (TCM) in 60 reviewed articles. We propose an Antecedents, Drivers, and Outcomes (ADO) model, which depicts that marginal profits drive high energy consumption and carbon emissions, with non-renewable energy proportionally responsible for carbon emissions. The article distinctively uses an integrated TCM-ADO framework for literature synthesis and the PESTLE framework for reporting future research areas. This is the first study to use the following four frameworks: PRISMA; TCM; ADO; and PESTLE for systematic literature review. Profit is identified as one of the most significant drivers of energy consumption and further carbon emissions. The article proposes 65 future research areas and makes theoretical contributions to the literature that may interest academicians, practitioners, and social stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is the most important issue to focus on as it contributes to economic development and social growth. Buildings were identified to significantly impact energy usage, where 40% of global energy comes from buildings. Nowadays, many buildings in a tropical climate are equipped with air-conditioners as it is seen as the fastest way to cool down buildings. However, this action impacts the environment. One of the affected buildings that are equipped with air-conditioners is a mosque. However, minimal attention has been given to mosques even though this type of building has a significant total space as other commercial buildings. Furthermore, mosques have a unique pattern of occupancy and energy use. While the major contributor to buildings' energy consumption comes from the roof, scarce information is found regarding roof design and energy consumption for air-conditioned mosques in Malaysia. The study aims at exploring the roof types of mosques in the Klang Valley. The objectives are 1) to identify mosques with air-conditioners in the Klang Valley built between 1998 and 2018, 2) to characterize and classify the specific roof types designed for these identified mosques, and 3) to investigate building energy intensity for mosque buildings in the Klang Valley. This paper presents a taxonomy study to classify roof design for air-conditioned mosques in Klang Valley. The study showed that the flat roof demonstrated high energy consumption and cost. The use of HVLS fans and the association with air-conditioners probably increased the building energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several mathematical models have been developed in the past to consider reliability when designing energy systems. However, these models focus on the system reliability which only considers the operability of the system. Hence, a reliability indicator called supply reliability is introduced to explicitly assess an energy system's reliability meeting the desired energy demand. Besides, previous models can only allocate equipment with identical sizes and equipment reliability. This could overdesign systems and ignore the possibility of allocating a combination of different equipment sizes and reliability. This paper presents a combinatory matrix methodology for allocating equipment with different sizes and reliabilities to improve supply reliability of an energy system design. This combinatory matrix method is a novel feature that allows decision-makers to efficiently evaluate various configurations of equipment based on size and reliability. A case study consisting of a power distribution network is first presented and solved as a pedagogical example to illustrate the methodology and features of the proposed approach. Then, a large-scale power system case study in Malaysia combining existing conventional power equipment and a palm-based bioelectricity supply chain is solved. Based on the optimized results, the redundancy allocated increased the energy generated from the bioelectricity supply chain by 74.14% and cost by 82.96% to achieve the desired energy demand at high supply reliability. This allows decision-makers to determine the cost associated with improving supply reliability for an energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the rising concentration of anthropogenic greenhouse gases emission in the atmosphere is extremely detrimental to the environment. The high concentration among all greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide emission. Therefore, this study explores the linkages between energy consumption, trade openness, globalization, urbanization, and carbon dioxide emission for Malaysia over the spans from 1978 to 2018. ARDL bound testing model was employed to investigate involvement in the elevation of carbon dioxide emissions in the economy. The study illustrates that a 1% growth in energy consumption, trade openness, and urbanization will deteriorate the environment by 0.18%, 0.03%, and 2.51% respectively. Further, variance decomposition analysis predicts that all the determinants in the study have significantly caused carbon dioxide emission in Malaysia. The paper presents scientific support for further studies and argues for the use of innovation shocks as a policy instrument for a prosperous future by formulating more successful environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia is one of the leading producers and exporters of oil palm, and the industry contributes significantly to the growth of the national economy. Nonetheless, the consequential oil palm biomass (OPB) with a potential yield of ∼97 million tonnes annually presents both challenges and opportunities, demanding innovative waste management solutions. This paper explores the feasibility of converting OPB into valuable commodities by employing concentrated solar-driven pyrolysis. A detailed overview of the biomass produced from oil palm plantations and mills is provided, along with a discussion of the industry stakeholders and associated biomass management challenges. The pyrolysis of OPB is explored, emphasizing benefits, potential barriers, and techniques. The focus then shifts to Malaysia's solar potential, which ranges from 1470 to 1900 kWh/m2 annually. The potentials of solar pyrolysis are explored, encompassing discussions on solar concentrator types, reactors, and the distribution of solar and OPB resources throughout Malaysia. The paper then recommends Tawau in Sabah, as an ideal location for OPB solar pyrolysis, due to its solar availability (up to 1873 kWh/m2), potential OPB resources from 19 mills and 241 plantations, and supportive infrastructure. The paper proposes solar-driven pyrolysis as a sustainable solution for Malaysia's OPB management, offers insights for policy initiatives and technological innovations in optimizing OPB and solar energy utilization. • Analyzes oil palm biomass potential for solar pyrolysis in Malaysia. • Explores solar resources in Malaysia for solar-driven pyrolysis. • Examines solar concentrators and reactors for pyrolysis. • Identifies potential city, as the optimal location for solar pyrolysis. • Discusses commercialization challenges of solar-driven pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia demonstrates its commitment to alleviating the negative climate and energy issues through various initiatives. One of the latest initiatives is the amendment of the net-energy metering (NEM) scheme that takes effect from 2019. This paper presents the distribution of energy to the residential house that has a grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed. The study quantifies the percentage of energy consumed from the PV system and the grid as well as the percentage of PV generated energy that is exported to the grid. On average, 38% of generated energy was used for selfconsumption that contributed to 28% of the total consumption. Economic evaluation over a 25-year lifecycle of the PV system is also conducted shows that the simple payback period for NEM 2019 and NEM 2016 is 8 years and 20 years, respectively. The latest version of NEM shows a superior advantage compared to the previous one which may attract more investments in PV generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart grid (SG) has contributed much to enhance energy efficiency as well as the energy sector utilizing energy informatics (EI). There have been many smart tasks and services implemented to perform energy related operations. Energy-optimized solutions for smart buildings, demand response, and energy-use prediction are some examples that efficiently exploited SG conception. In this line, EI has been exploited to enhance the performance of such energy related operations. However, there are lots of challenges so as a result, performances can be then affected. Many obstacles need to be discovered and corresponding solutions proposed in order to solve the majority of them. As a result, this study attempts to explain a number of issues that are encountered throughout the implementation of SG and provide critical ways to overcome them. In this paper, a case study of Malaysia is provided and discussed in terms of implementation of SG and key strategies proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increasing energy consumption, there has been a significant expansion in worldwide trade, leading to the emergence of severe environmental issues. This situation is further compounded by the non-negotiable requirement to simultaneously mitigate environmental degradation and achieve economic progress. To ensure a healthier future, it is imperative to identify and address the factors that contribute to environmental contamination. The purpose of this study is to examine how Malaysia's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are affected by energy consumption, economic growth, and the economic complexity index (ECI). Time series data from 1997 to 2020 are used in this study, along with the autoregressive distributed lag model. The environmental Kuznets curve theory holds true in Malaysia, according to the study's findings, and energy use has a negative impact on CO2 emissions. There is also evidence suggesting that a higher ECI is linked with increased levels of CO2 emissions over a prolonged period. Malaysia's main export, electrical and electronic goods, generates substantial CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process. The outcomes of this research have important ramifications for environmental strategies concerning the mitigation of CO2 emissions. The electrical and electronics industries can implement energy-efficient technologies and practices in manufacturing processes. This would include upgrading to more efficient machinery, optimizing production schedules, and reducing idle times. It is also crucial to work with governments and industry bodies to advocate for policies that support sustainable manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, wetland rice is cultivated over two cropping seasons: the main season, from June to November, and the off-season, from January to June. The aim of this study was to investigate tillage operations in rice production in relation to actual field operations and under real field conditions for two rice cultivation seasons. The results showed that 80.7%, 17%, and 2.3% of the total time was spent on the actual operation, turning time, and reversing time, respectively. The results also showed that the mean effective field capacity, field efficiency, and fuel consumption were 1.2 ha/h, 80%, and 7.6 L/ha, respectively. The distribution of energy used in the first, second, and third tillage passes amounted to 37%, 33%, and 30% of the total energy, respectively. Fuel, machinery, and total GHG emissions were 62.4, 7.6, and 70 kg CO2eq/ha, respectively. Fuel represented the highest contributor of energy expenditure and GHG emissions. The distributions of GHG emissions in the first, second, and third tillage passes were 37%, 32%, and 31% of the total GHG emissions. The results reveal that carrying out minimum-tillage operations led to a reduction in environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A medium-sized combine harvester has been recently deployed to harvest newly introduced high-value glutinous rice in Malaysia. Thus, efficient utilisation of combine harvesters during harvest is essential to minimise operating costs and grain loss. This study evaluated a medium-sized combine harvester's performance and energy consumption for harvesting glutinous rice. The experiment was carried out on a one-hectare paddy field with three sub-plots using a central composite design (CCD). A time-motion study was conducted during the harvesting operation to determine the combine harvester's performance parameters, which included field operating speed (FS), field efficiency (FE), theoretical field capacity (TFC), effective field capacity (EFC), grain throughput capacity (GTC), fuel consumption (FC) and field machine index (MI). The energy expended during the operation, which included machinery energy (ME), fuel energy (FCE), human energy (HE), and total energy (TE) input, were also computed. The average FS, FE, TFC, EFC, FC, and MI values were 2.42 km/h, 59.78%, 0.56 ha/h, 0.33 ha/h, 14.89 l/ha, and 0.30, respectively. The mean values of ME, FCE, HE, and TE were 305.35, 711.69, 3.62, and 1020.66 MJ/ha, respectively. The combine harvester achieved an average grain throughput capacity (GTC) of 1796.91 kg/h, demonstrating its effectiveness in handling glutinous rice harvesting. The average time distribution for the harvesting operation, such as effective harvesting time, turning/reversing time, and unloading time, was 1.85 h/ha, 0.38 h/ha, and 1.05 h/ha, respectively. Based on the results, it is concluded that the medium-sized combine harvester is technically and economically suitable for harvesting glutinous rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the effects of densification at varied pelletization temperatures on the novel Malaysian Khaya senegalensis wood-derived pellets biomass fuel characteristics. The lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the biomass fuel characteristics of this species prompted the research. By addressing this knowledge gap, this study explores the impact of temperature variations on key fuel properties, contributing to the optimization of sustainable biomass fuel production in manufacturing and materials processing. Khaya senegalensis wood, grown and harvested in Malaysia, was pelletized at different temperatures to analyze the calorific value, volatile matter content, ash content, fixed carbon, bulk density, and moisture contents of the pellets. The experimental data revealed a significant relationship between temperature and these fuel properties. Pelletizing at 75 °C produced the highest calorific value of 19.47 MJ/kg and the maximum fixed carbon content of 10.04%. A low ash level of 4.26% was achieved via pelletizing at 75 °C. According to the results, 75 °C produced the best thermophysical properties. These findings provide valuable understanding of how pelletization temperature influences fuel pellet thermophysical properties, a critical aspect in optimizing fuel pellet production, storage, advancing renewable energy resource utilization, and, finally, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development has many dimensions, such as clean energy, green growth, and sustainable industry. Green finance has a key role in realizing these targets. The core focus of the existing paper is to demystify the influences of green finance, green energy on environmental dynamics in Malaysia covering the timeframe from 1990 to 2018. To this end, we employ the QARDL technique to peruse the effect of green finance, renewable energy, and economic growth on CO 2 emissions and ecological footprint separately. By doing so, we crosscheck the empirical outcomes and inspect the consistency of the analysis. Firstly, empirical results show that the ecological footprint model yields similar results to the CO 2 emissions model in terms of statistically significant quantile ranges and the magnitude of the coefficients. According to the overall results, GDP increases environmental degradation while green finance and renewable energy have a mitigating role. Finally, we confirm a significant EKC hypothesis for Malaysia. Based on these findings, we recommend Malaysian policymakers focus on energy efficiency, realize financial reforms and promote green energy through the financial system to achieve the 2050 net-zero emission target. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of 2022, roughly 79.8% of Malaysia's population resides in urban areas, increasing the population density of its cities. The hot and humid climate in Malaysia necessitates the constant use of air conditioning, especially in cities, resulting in high residential electric consumption and carbon emissions. The residential sector significantly contributes to global climate change, accounting for 27% of global energy consumption and 17% of carbon emissions. To address this concern, the local framework of the National Low Carbon Cities Masterplan (NLCCM) is advocating for a minimum 33% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 in urban settings, aligning with the commitments made at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15). The aim of this study was to determine the energy consumption and carbon emission of residential areas in a tropical city, as well as explore potential energy and carbon savings. Utilizing the Intelligent Communities Lifecycle–Intelligent Community Design (iCL-iCD) energy simulation software, a digital twin of Bertam City, Penang, was developed. This digital model included 65.4% residential housing, which, in the specific scenario under study, accounted for 36% of the city's electrical energy consumption for cooling purposes only. An early simulation of the residential areas of the city estimated the baseline energy consumption and carbon emissions to be 607 GWh and 314,736 tCO2e, respectively. Several energy-efficient measures were applied to the residential area of Bertam City, revealing a potential saving of 37.3% in both energy and carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing environmental impacts in transport motivates many studies to offer more sustainable freight services. However, most methodologies focus on impacts from fuel consumption, and approaches trying to integrate other transport components have not facilitated its application to actual and specific transport services. In this study, we present a harmonized approach to address the transport services with a holistic way to increase the knowledge about hotspots of the transport sector based on the life cycle assessment methodology. In this framework, vehicle manufacturing, fuel production, and infrastructure construction are the key transport components around the traffic process. Besides fuel usage, the operation and maintenance of vehicles and infrastructures are also included. We developed a tool to create the life cycle inventories for each transport component to be applied to specific transport services in any location with a comprehensive view and low uncertainty in the results. This approach was applied to road-freight services in Colombia, Malaysia, and Spain. The main results showed the nature and origin of the environmental impacts, which are highly influenced by the emissions control technologies, road characteristics, and traffic volume. The contribution of atmospheric pollutants per tonne-km can decrease by a quarter when Euro VI trucks on highways instead of conventional trucks on single-lane roads are used. However, these contributions are highly affected by fuel production due to the origin of biofuels. The proposed methodology provides relevant information to estimate transport impacts in the life cycle assessment of products with superior precision and identify strategies for systemically improving sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in space technology have enabled the acquisition of reliable marine data, facilitating research on the potential of ocean renewable energy as an alternative source that can reduce dependency on fossil fuels, subsequently mitigating climate change. However, the ocean renewable energy development in Malaysia has not received adequate attention from local authorities and communities due to low resources in this area. Insufficient in-situ data, both in spatial and temporal dimensions, poses challenges in investigating the characteristics of ocean parameters, hindering a thorough study of the potential for ocean renewable energy development. Hence, this paper aims to identify potential ocean renewable energy development locations using the altimetry data and spatial-temporal clustering using the K-means technique. Theoretically, Malaysian seas are suitable for harnessing wind and waves with energy density ranges of up to 104.69 kW/m2 and 4.21 kW/m, respectively. This study enhances the understanding of Malaysian potential for ocean renewable energy, providing valuable information to stakeholders and the government to increase their interest in ocean renewable energy as a sustainable source for electricity generation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate organisational factors of blockchain adoption for carbon trading and energy efficiency. This study develops a new theoretical model based on technology, organisation and environment (TOE), and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theories to fill the literature gaps. The underpinning theories are utilised to capture the motivation of manufacturing industry firms to adopt blockchain technology while supporting carbon trading activities. Using survey data, we examine the perception of early adopters of blockchain technology and their relationships to energy efficiency. The results show that attributes such as the contract system, firm size, and compatibility significantly affect energy efficiency. Paradoxically, top management support, competitive pressure, regulatory support, relative advantage, and complexity were not, as prior literature suggests, crucial drivers. Adopting blockchain technology can help a firm improve business transparency, manage energy consumption, and provide a strong business case for firms in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing sector constitutes a cornerstone of Malaysia's economic landscape, significantly contributing to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This pivotal role, however, is accompanied by substantial energy requirements, placing the manufacturing sector among the highest energy consumers across various industries in the country. This study primarily focuses on assessing the solar energy potential within the manufacturing sector. The objectives encompass two key facets: firstly, simulating the attainable energy yield from a photovoltaic (PV) system integrated into manufacturing industry facilities, and secondly, evaluating whether the PV system's generated electricity aligns with the energy requirements of selected manufacturing sectors, namely chemical and metal manufacturing plants. Sixteen companies have been selected from the chemical and metallurgical sectors for this study. The design process for the solar photovoltaic systems within these facilities necessitates determining the factory's location and rooftop area. Additionally, assessing the total savings is imperative to gauge the viability of the solar energy generated by these manufacturing plants. Among the 16 companies analyzed, intriguingly, 5 companies have demonstrated the capacity to fully transition to solar energy to cater to their energy needs. Notably, one of these companies can harness solar power to meet an impressive 179.91% of their energy demand by optimizing available space for solar power generation. This transition could potentially translate into substantial savings exceeding RM1 million in electricity costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some studies have posited that sectoral growth could influence environmental pollution through energy consumption, the issue has not been explicitly and empirically investigated in the carbon-neutrality literature. Hence, this analysis fills the gap in the extant literature by employing the interaction models to ascertain the moderating role of energy consumption on the environmental impacts of the industrial, agricultural, financial, and service sectors in Malaysia. It also analyzes the marginal effects of sectoral growth on environmental pollution (i.e., ecological footprint and carbon emissions) at various levels of energy consumption. The Autoregressive Distributed lag technique utilized in this study found that the variables are cointegrated. The empirical estimations reveal that energy consumption plays a harmful moderating role on the impacts of the industrial and financial sectors on environmental pollution but does not aggravate the environmental impacts of the agricultural and service sectors. Besides, the marginal effects of the industrial and financial sectors on environmental pollution increase as the level of energy consumption rises in Malaysia. Based on the findings, this study highlights the policy implications and options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical factors of building performance in a school building must be determined to meet the users' basic requirement of comfort level. The disruption of physical factors such as ventilation, lighting, or thermal may constitute to reduce the productivity and efficiency among users. Thus, Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a significant tool to indicate the level of satisfaction and occupants' comfort in ensuring the current issues mainly related to physical aspects such as indoor environmental quality, space utilization, energy efficiency, and so forth. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to assess the satisfaction level of school building users in Malaysia, including students, teachers, and staff to improve the quality of the indoor environment in a school building as the leading learning space for the future generation. The interview was conducted with 12 participants in determining the satisfaction level of building performance assessment on school buildings. Next, the survey instrument was distributed to 224 respondents in 7 different schools, to evaluate the awareness level of POE in current practice and to analyse the physical criteria to conduct the evaluation standards on school buildings in Malaysia. This study concludes that POE is the most accurate approach to estimate the quality of building performance, especially for school buildings. Also, it should be emphasized as a continuous routine of physical environment evaluation or a periodic assessment of school buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Maritime Organization has set a goal to achieve a 50% reduction of total annual greenhouse gas emission related to the international shipping by 2050 compared to the 2008 baseline emissions. Malaysia government has taken an initiative to investigate the assessment (cost-effectiveness) of this International Maritime Organization's short-term measure on Malaysian-registered domestic ships although this measure is only for international merchant ship. To achieve this, this paper collected the ship's data from the shipowners from 25 sample ships. Engine power limitation is the most cost-effective option, but low power limits can lead to substantially increased sailing times. Based on cost-efficiency analysis, it creates for the purpose of compliance with the operational carbon intensity indicator. It found that even if it is possible to bring an asset back into service, it may not be possible to do so in a manner that generates a profit or complies with applicable regulations. In these situations, it may be more prudent to scrap the asset rather than run the risk of having it become a stranded asset. This is especially true for older tankers. Alternatives with lengthy payback periods are not desirable for the domestic tanker fleet that is already in operation. [Display omitted] • International Maritime Organization cut greenhouse gas emissions. • This report collects shipowner data from 25 sample ships. • Low engine power limitation can increase sailing times. • It found that reactivating an asset may not be profitable or compliant. • Instead of risking stranding, it may be better to scrap the asset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to ascertain whether there is an unbalanced link between CO2 emissions, foreign direct investment, and economic growth in Malaysia over a 40-year timeframe between 1980 and 2019. We investigated the asymmetric relationship , using non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) technique. The findings showed a noteworthy asymmetry between FDI, CO2 emissions, and GDP in Malaysia. The long-term and short-term effects of negative FDI on GDP are both equivalent to 0.028 and 0.021, respectively. This suggests that, compared to short-term fluctuations, long-term negative FDI adjustments have a considerably more negative impact on economic growth. The coefficient of positive (CO2+) and negative (CO2−) changes in economic growth is equal to 0.086 and − 0.152, respectively. It indicates that positive changes in CO2 emissions have stronger effects in the long run than negative shocks. Considering an asymmetric association between these two variables in the short and long term, Malaysian policymakers must comprehend the dynamic relationship between FDI, CO2 emissions, and GDP to plan appropriate economic and environmental policies that will support sustainable economic development and ensure a safer environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insight on how industrial's practices and commitments could affect better energy-efficient buildings implementation is still limited despite the emerging concerns over the demand to minimize energy consumption. This study aims to fill the gap by investigating industry behaviours and practices and recommending holistic energy-efficient management strategies in Malaysia. The study used an explanatory sequential mixed approach comprising 4 case studies of conventional buildings, 72 building stakeholders submitted a survey questionnaire, and 7 experts were interviewed to enable triangulation of information. The analysis revealed that current energy management strategies are based on low-hanging fruit measures. The results also suggest that financial, managerial, and knowledge limitations are the primary constraints to effectual energy-saving methods. This paper demonstrates three-tier intervention strategies in education, policy, and technology towards accelerating industry transition in achieving best practices in energy-efficient buildings. The outcomes of this study may advantage building interested parties in addressing relevant barriers to energy-efficient execution and designing effective efforts to encourage conventional building for the building advancement in Malaysia. This research offers findings by delivering greater practical perspectives on the extent of industry practises and behaviours regarding energy-efficient building implementation, including by presenting energy management approaches for benchmarks in energy-efficient buildings in Malaysia. • Financial, managerial and knowledge are the constraints to effectual energy-saving. • Intervention in education, policy and technology are the strategies for energy-saving. • Low-hanging fruit measures effective for simple behavioural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption by sector in Malaysia is rising significantly, especially for residential and commercial sectors, and is expected to continue to increase in the upcoming years. The existing power generated from a protonexchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system may be insufficient to sustain peak load demands during peak periods in stationary residential applications. The presence of an ultra-capacitor (UC) bank would be beneficial as a support as it can supply a large burst of power. The integration of PEMFC and UC has the potential to provide an effective way to supply power demands, has better energy efficiency, and is also economically friendly. In this research, we demonstrate a proposed combined PEMFC and UC bank that operates in parallel. A novel design methodology and dynamic model for both PEMFC and UC systems as energy sources have been developed for stand-alone residential applications. The simulation results are shown in Matlab Simulink. These results are based on mathematical and dynamic models of the system being shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically investigates the nexus among energy use, agricultural land expansion, deforestation, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Malaysia. Time series data from 1990 to 2019 were utilized using the bounds testing (ARDL) approach followed by the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) method. The DOLS estimate findings show that the energy usage coefficient is positive and significant with CO2 emissions, indicating a 1% increase in energy consumption is related to a 0.91% rise in CO2 emissions. In addition, the coefficient of agricultural land is positive, which indicates that agricultural land expansion by 1% is associated with an increase in CO2 emissions by 0.84% in the long run. Furthermore, the forested area coefficient is negative, which means that decreasing 1% of the wooded area (i.e., deforestation) has a long-term effect of 5.41% increased CO2 emissions. Moreover, the pairwise Granger causality test results show bidirectional causality between deforestation and energy use; and unidirectional causality from energy use to CO2 emissions, agricultural land expansion to CO2 emissions, deforestation to CO2 emissions, agricultural land expansion to energy use, and deforestation to agricultural land expansion in Malaysia. The empirical findings reveal that increased energy use, agricultural land expansion, and deforestation have a negative impact on environmental quality in Malaysia. Thus, the effective implementation of policy measures to promote renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable management of forest ecosystems could be useful for reducing environmental degradation in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternate renewable energy source, through a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester with a bluff splitter body, could lead to higher efficiency in energy harvesting, through vortex-induced vibration at a near-resonance condition at 20 m/s high wind speed. However, wind energy is not as popular as solar energy, as the main renewable energy source in Malaysia, due to the relatively low wind speed available in the country. The INVELOX machine, introduced in 2014, was one of the most recent systems used to harvest wind power by accelerating wind speed. This omni-directional wind funnel could capture wind from all directions and tunnel it through a convergent-divergent nozzle, where the coupled bluff splitter body and piezoelectric vibration energy harvester (PVEH) are located at its venturi throat, which could lead to an increase in wind speed to fulfil the task of VIV energy harvesting. The proposed modified design is found to achieve 2.7 times the wind speed amplification at the venturi, which outperformed previously proposed designs. To achieve the optimum wind speed of 20 m/s for the coupled bluff splitter body and the PVEH plate, a free-stream wind speed of 7.4 m/s is recommended. The integration of the PVEH plate and the wind funnel is expected to harvest maximum voltage output at 20.99 V or 4.96 V, with a maximum power output of 0.82mW at 20 m/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EV) are a relatively contemporary and emerging technology in the transportation and power sectors, with several economic and environmental advantages. However, there are still challenges associated with EV charging depending on on-grid electricity. University buildings that consume a lot of energy continue to rely on the grid and/or conventional fuel for consumption. In addition, EV Charging will create more challenges in meeting the demand; therefore, utilizing university rooftops for EV charging has high prospects of meeting the additional energy demand. In Malaysia, no such research has been presented that has explored the possibility of using academic institute rooftops for BIPV installation for EV Charging in terms of energy and environmental standpoint. The current study analyzes and evaluates a rooftop grid-connected Building Integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system for generating electricity and EV charging at the University Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia, for EV charging. The system's energy output has been simulated using the PVSyst in two scenarios, i.e., fully integrated with no ventilation and free mounted with air circulation. It was found that 7000 m2 of the selected building's rooftop area could be used for panel installation. The panels' total capacity was 1.069 MW, with total annual electricity production of 1587 MWh and 1669 MWh in respective scenarios. The proposed BIPV plant would reduce GHG emissions of 60,031 tons of CO2e in scenarios 1 and 61,191 tons of CO2 in scenario 2 compared to the emission produced by coal plants for the same amount of annual energy generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change continues to pose a threat to the agricultural sectors worldwide, jeopardizing food and nutritional security, which is a critical component of the sustainable development agenda. Consequently, this study attempts to examine the impact of climatic variables (CO2 emissions, energy resources, rainfall, temperature, fossil fuel consumption, and humidity) on agricultural production of rice, cereals, vegetables, coffee, and agriculture value added (as a percentage of GDP) in the Malaysian context. To this end, this study applied a generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator on the data obtained from the metrological station Malaysia, Department of Statistics Malaysia and World Development Indicators (WDI) spanning the period 1985–2016. The results revealed that temperature and energy consumption negatively and significantly affect rice and vegetable production, while the negative effect of rainfall, temperature, fossil fuel consumption, and humidity on cereal production is insignificant. The results also confirmed that CO2 emissions have a negative and significant impact on coffee production. Likewise, temperature, energy consumption, and fossil fuel consumption exhibit a negative and significant influence on agriculture value added. These observations evidenced the adverse effect of climate change on various agricultural products in Malaysia. Therefore, in order to ensure robust and sustainable agricultural output in Malaysia, policymakers as well as environmentalists should work together to formulate appropriate adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid rise in global oil prices, the scarcity of petroleum sources, and environmental concerns have all created severe issues. As a result of the country's rapid expansion and financial affluence, Malaysia's energy consumption has skyrocketed. Biodiesel and solar power are currently two of the most popular alternatives to fossil fuels in Malaysia. These two types of renewable energy sources appear to be viable options because of their abundant availability together with environmental and performance competence to highly polluting and fast depleting fossil fuels. The purpose of adopting renewable technology is to expand the nation's accessibility to a reliable and secure power supply. The current review article investigates nonconventional energy sources added with nanosized metal particles called as nanomaterials including biodiesel and solar, as well as readily available renewable energy options. Concerning the nation's energy policy agenda, the sources of energy demand are also investigated. The article evaluates Malaysia's existing position in renewable energy industries, such as biodiesel and solar, as well as the impact of nanomaterials. This review article discusses biodiesel production, applications, and government policies in Malaysia, as well as biodiesel consumption and recent developments in the bioenergy sector, such as biodiesel property modifications utilizing nanoparticle additions. In addition, the current review study examines the scope of solar energy, different photovoltaic concentrators, types of solar energy harvesting systems, photovoltaic electricity potential in Malaysia, and the experimental setup of solar flat plate collectors (FPC) with nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimated the environmental performance and primary energy consumption of a newly installed large-scale solar photovoltaic system of 37.57 MW dc in Bidor, Malaysia using the process-based life-cycle assessment approach. The mid-point and end-point impact categories were evaluated, and seven relevant indicators related to energy and global warming were determined. The global warming impact and energy payback time obtained were 30.95 g CO 2 -eq/kWh and 3.43 years, respectively. Furthermore, the global warming impact mitigation potential attained was 811 kilo metric tonne (ktonne) CO 2 -eq throughout the system lifetime. Analyses of contribution, sensitivity and uncertainty were performed to i) identify photovoltaic system components that substantially consumed primary energy and impacted the environment, ii) evaluate the effect of four key parameters, namely irradiation, performance ratio, system lifetime and electricity mix on the energy and global warming-related indicators, and iii) estimate the uncertainty range of the evaluated indicators. The results highlighted that the main contributor to the indicators is the photovoltaic module. Other significant contributors are the civil work and operational and maintenance but the contribution from these components is much lower than the photovoltaic module. Besides that, the cumulative energy demand, energy return on investment, global warming impact and global warming impact mitigation potential showed an improvement when extending system lifetime from 15 to 40 years, i.e. from 0.8136 to 0.3677 MJ, 4.61 to 11.25, 55.37 to 24.99 g CO 2 -eq/kWh and 407.36 to 1055.78 g CO 2 -eq respectively, except for energy payback time and global warming payback time, i.e. from 3.26 to 3.55 years and 1.42 to 1.71 years respectively. • A life-cycle assessment of a real large-scale solar photovoltaic system is performed. • Extending lifetime of the system marginally increases the energy payback time. • The GW impact is about 19 times smaller than the Malaysian grid emission factor. • PV module is the major contributor to total primary energy consumption and GW impact. • BOS and O&M have a moderate share for primary energy consumption and GW impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the energy demand keeps growing with the world's increasing population, concerns have arisen about the carbon emissions that contribute to critical environmental issues. These environmental concerns drive many nations to commit themselves in pursuing sustainable energy resources. Different process integration techniques have been developed to achieve a viable energy planning sector. In reference to the literature review, the use of time-sliced based models in optimization problems is still sparse. Hence, this paper aims to develop a time-sliced based optimization model that can be integrated into energy integration models. With that, a multi-period pinch-based methodology (targeting, scheduling, and optimization) for electric power systems with the hybridization of renewables and fossil-based energy is proposed. The prospective framework is designed to meet the emissions limit, fulfil energy demand, and minimize the electricity bill. An illustrative case study in Malaysia incorporated with an actual billing system is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The results show that it is capable of reducing the total electricity bill by 35% and achieving a 71% reduction of emissions by using solar PV as the renewables. • Three-step multi-period pinch-based methodology for energy planning is presented. • The model incorporates an actual billing system. • Time-sliced based optimization model is developed in the proposed framework. • Optimal emission reduction ratio and storage size are identified as 0.71 and 236 kWh. • The total electricity bill can be further reduced by 35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels have received a lot of interest as a result of rising energy demand which caused rapid depletion of fossil fuels and growing worries about greenhouse gas emissions. Biofuels, unlike other renewable energy sources, can supply liquid fuels, which are necessary for transportation. In this review study, the main focus is the scenario of palm oil biofuel development in Malaysia, which involves the future prospect and challenges faced by the country to fully-utilize the potential of palm oil as a renewable energy. Even with the primary driving policy, the National Biofuel Policy 2006, it is found that as of the year 2020, Malaysia is still lacking in pace and technologies in inventing top-notch quality biofuel. Although the number of articles published in the subject of biofuels is increasing, more study is required to explain current technology and its benefits, especially in Malaysia, the world's second-largest producer of oil palm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]