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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]

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]

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]

Electricity generation from the sea has many advantages in comparison with other renewable energy resources. Power can be generated from new or existing barrages. Based on previous location research, a suitable system to produce tidal range energy from a potential site was developed in this paper. The main objective of this research is to calculate the energy output of the Kuching Barrage of Sarawak State of Malaysia. The daily flushing process of Kuching Barrage is conducted during the low tide period and therefore to put up the ebb generation process is appropriate. The calculated period of power generation is determined to about 6 hours. The annual energy output is calculated based on a theoretical method, with the average daily potential energy calculated to be 5.8MW and approximately 10.23GWh/year could be harnessed. This research can be beneficial for energy generation with the use of a double basin scheme for the construction of new barrages in East Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily human activities generate greenhouse gases. The total emission of greenhouse gases is called the carbon footprint and is expressed in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) units. As a new educational institution, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) began to take part in an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) programme that supports the reduction in carbon emissions. In this study, the total amount of CO2 produced from UTM during 4 years was measured under three categories: (1) the emissions from the fleet of university vehicles for public transportation, (2) the electricity and water emissions, and (3) the emissions produced by staff and student transportation, waste generation, paper, and maintenance by contractors. The special evaluation method is an alternative method to calculate greenhouse gases and measures all elements/sources of greenhouse gases under the same functional unit. This reference helps the assessor to avoid the double measurement of anthropogenic gases. The study results demonstrated that air transportation utilised by university students and employees and electricity usage contributed to 34.74%, 19.37%, and 18.19% of the carbon emissions, respectively. The total CO2 emissions from the three sources over 4 years were 48.442 MT. The data on the carbon footprint of the university can form the basis for monitoring, evaluation, and regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia. Moreover, the university constructed and operates a smart house, a large solar parking lot with a capacity of 10 MW, uses solar and wind-powered lighting, and encourages the use of bicycles and electric scooters to achieve an annual reduction in the total CO2 emissions intensity. The results of this study suggested that a carbon reduction project could encourage university members and public society to an understanding of the environment and allowing UTM to become a centre of excellence for the operation of a green campus for urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a survey was conducted on a residential condominium to estimate energy use by different household appliances along the lighting energy estimation in public areas. It has been found that about 2.17 GWh of energy is used in the condominium annually by different types of household appliances and lightings in public areas. As there is significant potential to reduce the energy used, different energy savings measures have been applied and energy savings, bill savings, life cycle cost analysis have been estimated and presented in this paper. It has been found that a cumulative amount of 2.4 GWh of energy can be saved for about 10 years with the implementation of different energy savings strategies proposed for appliances and lighting in public areas. However, good maintenance practices and good energy management practices should be employed continuously to maintain high energy efficiency and high performance of the equipment used and the entire building. It has been found that some of the measures like reducing air conditioning load and reducing heat gain through window tinting are economically very viable as payback period is very short. More advantageously, some of the measures can be implemented without investing significant cost. Ultimately, a key driver in the success of energy efficiency is the education and attitude of the stakeholders in the building industry, and end users who are committed to practice energy saving measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to fully assess the potential of a photovoltaic (PV) application on a building's façade, the amount of energy generated and the cost of the PV installation must be analysed during the design process to enable the designer, investor and end-user to make decisions regarding the implementation of renewable technologies. This paper focuses on the financial evaluation of a vertical PV façade system on a high-rise building in Malaysia, using the System Advisor Model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of Malaysia, based on five possible design scenarios that all use an amorphous silicon heterojunction module with a nominal efficiency of 15.6%. According to our financial analysis, the payback period for a vertical PV system would be about 12 years, while that of a horizontal system would be 6 years. On average, a PV system on a vertical façade would be able to save 8400-17 000 USD each month compared to a PV roof installation (about 5200 USD each month). This shows that PV installations on vertical façades of high-rise buildings could be implemented in Malaysian climate conditions. With a careful design approach, this could open up a new demographic in the Malaysian built environment and Renewable Energy industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine to what extent religious work values such as Islamic work values (IWVs) could have an influence on sustainable work behaviours and sustainable energy consumptions among employees in the workplace.Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through survey questionnaires. The sample consisted of 264 Muslim employees who work in the private and public organisations in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling was conducted using a second-order model.Findings The results showed that religious values (i.e. IWVs) have a significant relationship with sustainable work behaviours and sustainable energy consumptions. The effect on sustainable work behaviours was stronger than its effect on sustainable energy consumptions.Practical implications This study suggests that the policy makers and pundits should pay attention to employees rather than focussing on just the CEO or the managers as the key players in the industries. This would help reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses and other environmental degradations.Originality/value With regard to sustainability, past studies have mostly used general values rather than religious values in analysing work behaviours or energy consumptions. Furthermore, most previous studies have used behavioural intentions in their theory and concepts when explaining sustainable behaviours. This study extends the literature by conceptualising the value-attitude-behaviour theory which focusses on actual behaviours rather than on intentions in explaining the effect of religious work values on sustainable behaviours and energy consumptions. [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]

Currently, the transportation sector alone consumes more than 40% of the total energy consumption in Malaysia. Developed countries around the world have implemented a fuel economy standard for motor-vehicles. This paper attempts to predict the amount of fuel savings and the subsequent economic and environmental impact in the transportation sector by implementing a minimum fuel economy standard for personal vehicles in Malaysia. The calculations are based on the growth of vehicle ownership data in Malaysia. The ownership of private vehicles in Malaysia has rapidly risen from 2,553,574 in 1995 to 6,941,996 in 2006. By implementing the program in 2010 about 15 Gl of fuel can be saved by the end of the year 2018. This correlates to about RM42 billion (1US$ = RM 3.5) in bill savings and 36 million tones of carbon dioxide reductions. This study finds that implementing fuel economy standard for motor-vehicles in Malaysia will provide significant amount of fuel and emission reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the potential mitigation of emissions by implementing minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) for residential TVs in Malaysia. The ownership of TVs in Malaysian household has increased rapidly over the past three decades. The number has increased from 186,036 units in 1970 to 2,741,640 units in 1991 and is predicted to be about 7,292,931 units in the year 2015. To reduce energy consumption in the residential sector, the Department of Electricity and Gas Supply is considering implementing MEPS for TVs in the coming year. In this study the potential reduction of emissions as a result of implementing MEPS is calculated. It has been estimated that the implementation of MEPS for residential TVs would reduce approximately 57,837,060 kg of CO2, 351,114 kg of SO2, 164,609 kg of NOx and 34,777 kg of CO emissions during the standard period of 10 years. These emissions reduction will eventually enable us to control environmental impacts such as global warming. [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]

The shortage of non-renewable power supplies and critical environmental issues such as climate change, urban sprawl, ozone layer depletion and excessive carbon emission are the main driving forces that urged many countries and non-profit organisations fully committed to seeking more sustainable energy sources and energy planning. Various Process Integration techniques have been developed, extended and utilized in the energy planning sector. Based on the literature review, the use of time-sliced based models in energy integration is still limited. This paper aims to develop time-sliced models that can be applied into an energy integration model that promises higher energy efficiency in power generation energy planning. To accomplish this, a two-stage framework involving (i) targeting and (ii) scheduling is proposed. The targeting step is to determine the minimum amount of renewable energy sources needed to meet the carbon emission limit whereas the scheduling step is to discover the optimal scheduling of introduced renewable energy sources to mitigate the total electricity bill. It is proposed that with the aid of adequate planning, the economic benefit of utilising renewable energy can be realized. A case study in Malaysia that incorporates an actual billing system is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in reducing both carbon emission and energy cost simultaneously. With the use of the proposed framework and developed model, 46.9 % of electricity bill can be reduced while emission is reduced by 40 % compared to the initial emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Solar is one of the many sources of renewable energy, and Concentrating Solar Tower (CST) is one of the most potential technologies in extracting solar energy. Thermal efficiency of CST is high and suitable to be implemented in a tropical climate country such as Malaysia which is located between at 10 to 70 North latitude and 1000 to 1200 east longitude. Further, Malaysia's direct normal irradiation (DNI) in tropical climate is almost constant throughout a year with the irradiation around 1500 to 2000 kWh/m2. Therefore the aim of this paper is to mathematically calculate the CST field layout in Malaysia in term of thermal efficiency based on cosine efficiency, atmosphere efficiency and mirror efficiency. The preliminary result from this paper shows Malaysia is a suitable location to develop CST with average of atmospheric transmittance efficiency and cosine efficiency of 94% and 63% respectively and the overall optical field efficiency is 52%. In addition, the atmospheric transmittance and cosine efficiency has high value but the efficiency gradually decreases whenever the distance increases. Nevertheless further investigation in term of solar irradiation and raining pattern in Malaysia is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Generally it has been known that energy consumption costs are high in temperate countries. In buildings, room spaces are normally designed so as to consume less energy for thermal comfort especially in winter. Passive strategies such large double-glazing windows are to contain heat indoors and also for maximum daylight to reduce dependence on artificial lighting. Thus roof lights are popular building design elements in cold and temperate countries. Unlike in the tropics where it has high temperatures and humidity throughout the year, achieving indoor comfort is a challenge especially with plenty of sunshine and unpredictable wind conditions. This paper explores the possibility of roof light for indoor comfort to be considered as a tropical design element. Initial simulation was carried out before any attempt to do life-sized model for empirical data. By simulation, the hypothesis has been achieved but several factors have to be considered. The solution is not as simple as those achieved in the temperate countries. Comfort can be achieved but permutations of several design factors such as dimensions of room, glazing, reflective materials, blackbody concept and building materials need adjustment to meet the Malaysian Comfort Temperature. With this finding the Tropical Architecture would then be redefined with the introduction of this Innovative Roofing System (IRS) as named by the author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Malaysia has an abundance of energy resources, both renewable and non-renewable. The largest non-renewable energy resource found in Malaysia is oil, and second, is natural gas, primarily liquefied natural gas. The production and consumption of oil, gas and coal in Malaysia are given in this paper. The energy demand and supply by source are also shown in relation to the country’s fuel diversification policy. In order to reduce the overall dependence on a single source of energy, efforts were undertaken to encourage the utilization of renewable resources. Forest residue and oil palm biomass are found to be potentially of highest energy value and considered as the main renewable energy option for Malaysia. Palm oil and related products represent the second largest export of Malaysia. The total oil palm planted area in Malaysia has increased significantly in recent years. This paper gives a detailed representation of oil palm planted and produced together with its yield from the year 1976 onwards. The large amounts of available forest and palm oil residues resulting from the harvest can be utilized for energy generation and other by-products in a manner that also addresses environmental concerns related to current waste disposal methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study embarks to propose a list of energy management key practices for Malaysian Universities. Energy management is beneficial for Malaysian university that confront expensive energy bill, for it have large build up areas, comprehensive facilities as well as large numbers of building users. The proposed list of energy management key practices is a complement to their existing practices and, to guide them in achieving energy sustainability. A non-experimental, quantitative, and survey research design was used. Questionnaire survey was performed in Malaysian public and private universities to obtain energy coordinators' perspective on the importance of proposed energy management key practices. This study suggests a total of 47 key practices are vital to manage energy in university, they were grouped into three major phases: "Planning", "Implementing", and "Monitoring and Evaluation". The results show that key practices pertain to involvement, measurement and verification, budget allocation, energy goals and objectives were considered very important by university energy coordinators. Although technology approach seems impressive, result shows it is not their prior choice. Also, some of the soft energy management key practices, such as "develop education plan" and "advice on energy matters" are not considered important by the energy coordinators. The paper confirms the importance of the proposed list of energy management key practices, the list would be applicable to university to monitor and measure their energy performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the energy security implications of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy in Malaysia (SCORE), a US$105 billion infrastructure development plan in Sarawak on the island of Borneo. SCORE aims to build a series of hydroelectric dams along a 320-kilometer corridor by 2030. The article begins by explaining the methodology utilized for its research interviews and site visits. It goes on to argue that energy security in Southeast Asia should consist of simultaneously improving the availability, affordability, efficiency and stewardship of energy services for end users. Availability involves diversifying the fuels and technologies in energy production and minimizing dependence on imports; affordability means providing electricity and fuel within the income range of most consumers; efficiency means improving the performance of equipment and lowering demand for energy; and stewardship is minimizing political, social, and environmental hazards associated with energy production and consumption. The paper next introduces the SCORE project before making an assessment utilizing the four criteria of energy security. While SCORE partially improves availability, we argue that it erodes aspects of affordability, efficiency and stewardship. Cost overruns and delays in financing will make the electricity from SCORE suitable only to industrial users, not the energy poor. SCORE is predicated on the assumption that electricity demand should grow greatly in the future rather than the idea that energy efficiency and demand side management programmes should attempt to reduce growth in demand for electricity. SCORE also has a pernicious set of social, environmental and political consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in oil prices has put pressure on the global economy. Even economies that have a high degree of self-sufficiency concerning oil products are experiencing rising production costs and price increases for households energy use. Therefore, changes in energy policies are under consideration for countries highly dependent on imported energy as well as countries with a high degree of self-sufficiency. Examination of dependence on cheap energy sources for economic growth in different economic sectors is becoming more important as countries are trying to promote activities that are less energy intense. Among the policy changes under consideration, the adjustment of domestic energy subsidies is of particular interest. The effect of high energy prices on a fast growing economy, such as in Malaysia, is considerable, as the country will shift from being a net exporter of energy to a net importer in less than 10 years. Malaysia until recently has experienced increasing overall energy intensity and the growth up to 2,000 was quite high, especially for electricity intensity. A continued rise in energy intensity will be quite problematic in this new high oil price regime. This paper investigates the impact of rising energy prices on production costs for the different sectors of the Malaysian economy. Input–output (I–O) calculations demonstrate that the impact on the exporting component of the manufacturing sectors is less than for the average production. Therefore the production cost increase caused by, for example, an adjustment in electricity prices of 25% will result in less than 1/2% increase. As the competing countries in world markets are experiencing the same rise in energy costs, including electricity based on fossil fuels, there is no vital argument for not allowing domestic energy prices to adjust to the international price changes. [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 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]

• The electric bus energy consumption is calculated by using spatial–temporal model. • The varying energy losses among the grid and electric bus charging are considered. • The proposed framework can be straightforwardly applied on various bus networks. • The validation of this study is based on Bus-Rapid Kuala Lumpur data. • A tracking system is used to obtain the speed measurement of the driving mode. This work proposes a generic framework to estimate the energy consumption and investigate the penetration impact of a distributed network of battery electric buses (BEBs). The core of this work builds on a novel framework to determine the energy demand of BEBs and their potential as a replacement for diesel-powered buses in transportation networks. This paper uses data mapping technology from the Geographical Information System to cover the potential analysis of BEB penetration for large-scale bus networks. State-of-the-art methods have previously estimated the energy consumption of a BEB by using simulator models for each driving cycle, but these studies have not considered the actual elevation data of a local bus route. In fact, the elevation of the bus route is considered the main factor that varies the energy consumption of BEBs. This study developed a longitudinal dynamic model with a spatial version of a digital elevation model to determine the energy demand of a large-scale BEB network. Additionally, this work assessed two charging protocols—opportunity charging and overnight charging—according to the operating environments of electric buses. The application of the framework is validated in a case study to electrify the entire Rapid Kuala Lumpur bus (Bus-Rapid KL) network in Malaysia. The proposed model used real-world data, which are typically available only to bus transit administration operators. In this paper, the data for bus route lines, bus station locations, and the number of passengers riding the Bus-Rapid KL were considered to formulate the forecasting longitudinal and temporal model by using passenger information system data. The results showed a penetration impact of the BEB charging demand during daytime and nighttime in an urban area in Kuala Lumpur. The proposed forecasting paradigm may permit power network operators to predict the optimal electric bus charging demand based on actual BEB consumption through the bus paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palm biodiesel industry is facing many challenges implementing biodiesel program in Malaysia. This paper addresses the importance of the B10 blend (10% biodiesel, 90% petroleum diesel), global challenges of palm oil import and export, and protective measures for continuous positive growth of the palm oil sector. Palm oil is the backbone of Malaysia's economy, covering more than 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP). The key steps taken by the Malaysian government for the successful implementation of the B10 program are discussed in this review study. Till now, B5 and B7 biodiesel programs have been successfully implemented in Malaysia. The B10 biodiesel program is attractive because of the developed local palm oil sector. The B10 biodiesel program will increase the use of renewable energy sources, and is expected to increase the productivity of palm oil and biodiesel implementation in the country. Despite successful B5 and B7 programs, Malaysia is facing challenges for the implementation of biodiesel due to fluctuation in crude palm oil prices, low domestic usage of palm oil, and vehicle warranty. The improvement of palm oil and promotion of B10 through targeted agencies in the central region of Malaysia will help to implement the biodiesel program successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in global warming, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has gained attention in various regions. In Malaysia, the government announced a voluntary commitment to reduce 40% of CO 2 emissions by 2020 and to refurbish 100 government buildings. Existing buildings make a large contribution to energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, therefore refurbishing existing buildings is an essential strategy to achieve the commitment. There is no single assessment scheme for building refurbishment in Malaysia and hence, this study aims to develop a comprehensive list of assessment themes and sub-themes for building refurbishment purposes. It examines and compares 10 assessment schemes from various countries: BREEAM, LEED, CASBEE, BEAM Plus, GBLS, Green Star, HQE, Green Mark, GBI and MyCrest. The findings revealed fourteen themes that were considered for assessment: management , sustainable site , transport , indoor environmental quality ( IEQ ), water , waste , material , energy , pollution , innovation , economic , social , culture and quality of services . Energy and IEQ are dominant themes in all assessment schemes. Most of the schemes are considered relatively weak in evaluating economic and social aspects, in comparison to environmental aspects. The assessment of quality of services is overlooked in most of the schemes, including GBI and MyCrest in Malaysia. Outcomes from this paper will form the baseline for a new environmental assessment scheme that aimed at non-domestic building refurbishments in Malaysia. A new model is proposed for the development of an environmental assessment scheme in the further stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water security plays a crucial role in maintaining livelihoods, especially emerging economies. In Malaysia, understanding the inter-relationships of water within the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is at its infancy. This paper investigates the interactions of the water sector with energy sector in Malaysia, through the lenses of WEF nexus, using system dynamics. The first part of the research involves qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the water sectors, which provides validation for the initial causal loop relationships built and qualitative inputs of the water-energy nexus through the lenses of the water sector. The second part of the research is a quantitative simulation of stock and flow based on four carefully designed scenarios revolving around Malaysian water security. Key findings include an apparent disconnect between the states and federal governments in managing water supply, poor economic sustainability of the water supply and services industry, and significant energy use in the water sector. On the other hand, environmental impacts stemming from the water sector is minimal. Streamlining water governance and revising water tariffs have thus been suggested as policy recommendations, where their implementation could propagate into downstream benefits for the energy sector. [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]

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 aims to examine the relationship between CO2 emission, economic growth, and energy use in Malaysia. The Johansen co-integration model was then applied. The results show that one co-integrating equation exists, thus implying the long-term relationships between carbon dioxide emission, energy consumption, and economic growth and the results are affirmed by the VECM test. The results of the Granger causality model show that in Malaysia, energy use influence economic growth and also carbon dioxide emission. The findings in our study are highly important in policy implementation. Energy consumption can trigger environmental problems in Malaysia. Nevertheless, energy conservation policies remain complex in Malaysia. Increasing energy consumption to enhance economic growth can escalate carbon dioxide emission. [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]

Abstract: This paper employs annual data from 1971 to 2006 to examine the causal relationship between aggregate output, electricity consumption, exports, labor and capital in a multivariate model for Malaysia. We find that there is bidirectional Granger causality running between aggregate output and electricity consumption. The policy implication of this result is that Malaysia should adopt the dual strategy of increasing investment in electricity infrastructure and stepping up electricity conservation policies to reduce unnecessary wastage of electricity, in order to avoid the negative effect of reducing electricity consumption on aggregate output. We also find support for the export-led hypothesis which states Granger causality runs from exports to aggregate output. This result is consistent with Malaysia pursuing a successful export-orientated strategy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The industrial sector is the biggest electricity consumer in Malaysia. Electric motors account for more than 45% of the electricity consumption in the industrial sector in the country. Therefore, it is very important to implement energy efficiency standards for electric motors to reduce energy consumption growth in this sector. This paper attempts to calculate the cost efficiency analysis and emission reduction by implementing energy efficiency standards for electric motor in Malaysia. The energy efficiency standards are proposed based on the efficiency of electric motors from survey data. The study examines the potential energy, economical and environmental impacts of the implementation of energy efficiency standards for electric motors in three scenarios i.e. 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of standards efficiency improvement. Standards also enable consumers to reduce their electricity bill and contribute to a positive environmental impact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The popularization of 24h pay-TV, interactive video games, web-TV, VCD and DVD in Malaysia are poised to have a large impact on overall TV electricity consumption in the country. With the increasing of overall TV energy consumption, energy efficiency standards are one of highly effective policies for decreasing electricity consumption in the residential sector. Energy efficiency standards are also capable of reducing consumer''s electricity bill and contribute towards positive environmental impacts. This paper attempts to predict the amount of energy that can be saved in the residential sector by implementing minimum energy efficiency standard for television sets in Malaysia. Over the past 30 years, television ownership in Malaysian residents has increased from 186,036units in 1970 to 2,741,640units in 1991. This figure is expected to reach 6,201,316 units in the year 2010. Hence, efficiency improvement for this appliance will have a significant impact on the future of electricity consumption in this country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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With the ageing infrastructure and fast-growing demand faced by utilities worldwide, voltage uprating is one of the most effective solutions and strategic approaches in asset management decisions. In this study, a systematic voltage uprating method is used to propose the new voltage level, based on the existing transmission lines' physical structure, by utilising appropriate techniques. Prior to work conducted, the existing 132 kV transmission line was first examined in terms of the clearances and the components attached, and a technical issue on the clearance under still air was found to be a significant concern, particularly on phase-to-earth arrangements. Next, the proposed techniques and processes, by increasing the insulation strength and improving air conductor clearances, were used for the individual existing 132 kV transmission tower. The proposed voltage uprating of the 132 kV transmission tower comprehensively examines phase-to-earth under normal and extreme wind conditions based on electrical clearance requirements for 275 kV transmission lines. The proposed uprating model was then simulated using the Finite Element Method (FEM)-based commercial software under several lightning conditions, i.e., various basic lightning insulation levels (BIL) and different flashover mechanisms, taking into consideration still air and wind conditions for the voltage profile and its insulation strength analyses. The study found that the voltage profile condition for the proposed voltage uprating model was able to withstand its BIL under all conditions and thus satisfied the electrical requirement needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia, as one of the top energy subsidizing countries, has announced to remove energy subsidies necessarily, not only to reduce energy consumption and the government budget deficit but also to improve overall efficiency and air quality. Therefore, this study evaluates the impacts of rationalizing energy subsidy and its energy efficiency improvement during 2010–2030 using a dynamic recursive computable general equilibrium model. Results revealed that reducing energy subsidies decreases energy consumption and emissions of all air pollutants. While the economic performance of the country improves in the long run due to stimulation in capital demand and investment, it reduces in the short run. Energy efficiency also improves by 1.1% and 2.3%, in the short run, in response to a reduction of 10% and 100% in energy subsidies, respectively. Energy efficiency improvements decrease the negative effects of pure subsidy policies on real GDP, trade, investment, and household consumption. The efficiency improvement policies also are effective in reducing more level of the rebound effect and lead to more energy saving in the economy, particularly in the petroleum products sector. The impacts on the rebound effect also differ across economic sectors. The results of this study provide new insights for energy subsidy policy and energy efficiency and suggest that additional tools and policies are required for improving the energy efficiency caused by phasing out energy subsidies. Malaysia, as one of the top energy subsidized countries, attempts to reduce the level of energy subsidies over time and, consequently, decline the use of fossil fuels in the economy. Therefore, this study analyzes the impacts of different subsidy reform policy on energy efficiency and, consequently, on economic and environmental performance and rebound effect of Malaysia by a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study is an effort to investigate the relationship between technological innovation, structural changes, and carbon dioxide emission (CO2) along with the energy use and economic growth in the context of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) over a period from 1985 to 2016. The study adopted the Zivot Andrews unit root test to check for the level of stationarity of the study variables. Based on the stationarity level, the study adopted autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to cointegration to investigate the presence of long- and short-run associations, simultaneously. To confirm the outcome of the ARDL bounds test in the presence of structural breaks, the study further applied the Gregory Hansen test of cointegration. The results reveal that industry value added in Malaysia has no significant impact on CO2 emissions. The results further posit that improvement in technology can lead to a cleaner environment. Regardless of improvements in technology and insignificant pressure of industrial activities towards environment, the results are not in the favour of the EKC hypothesis neither under the conventional turning point formula nor under the new turning point formula. The results reveal that long-run CO2 emission is bidirectionally related to energy use, structural changes, and technological innovation. The short-run results indicate bidirectional causalities between energy consumption, structural change, and CO2 emissions. The study suggests that the government should overhaul the structure of the energy in Malaysia to overcome both the losses in the production process and to reduce carbon emissions by inspiring the induction of environment-friendly and efficient technologies in the production process and a shift towards more services sector economy. The outcomes of the study are according to the theory of ecological modernization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple (Ananas Comosus), which has been identified as high-value non-seasonal tropic fruit, is one of the top five fruits in Malaysia that shows a promising demand in the local and export markets. The current study was conducted to analyse the efficiency energy inputs used in every activity involved in the process of pineapple production. The study also aimed to contribute in initiating a database for energy used in producing pineapples in Malaysia, which would hopefully become a guideline for applications in related policies in pineapple plantations. Data were collected based on direct field observations at a pineapple plantation under the management of Koperasi Serbaguna Anak-Anak Selangor Bhd. (KOSAS Bhd.) at Kg. Kundang in Selangor, Malaysia. Oral interviews were also carried out to gather any relevant information. The highest energy input used in pineapple production is fertiliser, contributing to 45.65% from the total energy equivalents used in the production. Fuel is the second highest energy source with a segment of 20.21% of the total energy, followed by planting material, agrochemicals, human labour and machine at 17.33%, 12.76%, 3.34 % and 0.69%, respectively. The ratio of energy output/inputs in pineapple production in the study area was 3.56. Conclusively, it means the energy input is effectively used in the pineapple production in the study area since the energy output/inputs ratio is greater than 1. Involvement of machinery in the pineapple cultivation practices in Malaysia is recommended since it reduces human drudgery and optimises farm's capability to do work more efficiently and also to offset the labour shortage problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore the long-run relationships and short-run dynamic interactions between environmental degradation (proxied by carbon dioxide, CO2 emissions) and the independent variables of consumption (proxied by income level or gross domestic product, GDP per capita) and energy use in Malaysia over the period 1971 to 2008, using time-series analysis. The multivariate cointegration methodology is applied in this study to establish the possible causal relations between the variables concerned. The cointegration test and the vector error correction model display the evidence of a positive long-run relationship between consumption and environmental degradation while energy use is negatively related to environmental degradation. The long-term elasticity coefficients of the exploratory variables on environmental degradation display relationships that are theoretically grounded. There is evidence that consumption and energy use have a dominant influence in forecasting environmental degradation variance through further innovation analysis using variance decompositions. The study concludes with an examination of policy implications of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ex-post evaluations of energy policies in Malaysia between 1970 and 2010 were conducted. The developments of energy policies in Malaysia were traced from the early 1970s with the introduction of the country's first energy-related policy all the way to 2010 with the country's first endeavour towards a biobased energy system. Analyses revealed that many of the policies were either: (1) directly responding to changes in global/domestic socioeconomic and political events, or (2) provided visions to guide developments of the energy sector in alignment with the country's growth agenda. Critical examinations of the country's actual energy consumptions during these 40 years were also conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these energy-related policies. Three noteworthy successes in Malaysia's energy landscape are: (1) the formation of PETRONAS as the national oil and gas company; (2) reduction of country's over-reliance on oil as a single source of energy by significantly growing the production and use of natural gas in a short span of time; and (3) creation of a thriving oil and gas value chain and ecosystem in the country. However, the country is still critically dependent on scarce petroleum resources, despite having an abundance of renewable reserves. Progress towards renewable energy has been too little and too slow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]