Interview – Making the case for geothermal improvement in Malaysia

Making the case for geothermal in Malaysia – An interview with Dr. Mohd Hariri Arifin

With Indonesia and the Philippines as neighboring international locations, one would justifiably assume that there’s geothermal potential in Malaysia. Research have proven this to be true, however the sector has to date not managed to develop at a significant scale. This will not be the case for lengthy. Work is now ongoing from the tutorial and industrial sectors in Malaysia in the direction of the objective of a first-ever geothermal energy plant within the nation.

As a part of these efforts, Malaysia will probably be internet hosting its first Malaysia Worldwide Geothermal Convention on the Teknopolis Constructing of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Selangor on 23-25 September 2024. Registration for the convention remains to be open.

To study extra concerning the present work on geothermal in Malaysia, its future route, and the help that the sector wants, we talked with Dr. Mohd Hariri Arifin from the Division of Earth Sciences and Surroundings at UKM.

Are you able to inform us concerning the standing of geothermal in Malaysia and the outcomes of research which have been accomplished to date?

We’ve about 100 geothermal places in Malaysia – greater than 60 in Peninsular Malaysia, and greater than 20 within the Sabah and Sarawak areas in East Malaysia. Majority of the geothermal websites in Malaysia are non-volcanic in origin, apart from the websites in Sabah which are associated to the Philippine volcano system. This characterization offers us a basic details about geothermal in Malaysia and its potential.

Previous research on geothermal have been undertaken by the Sustainable Power Improvement Authority (SEDA) in addition to the Division of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG). A few of these research have been deserted both due to a scarcity of finances or a lower in curiosity from the federal government sector.

Proper now, we’re working beneath a contract with PETRONAS to conduct research and reevaluate earlier outcomes from the Ulu Slim website (north of Kuala Lumpur) to extend the arrogance stage on its potential capability. So now, we’re very assured to go for the second part of the mission, which is drilling. I imagine that, based mostly on our findings, implementing a Proof of Idea mission can generate far more curiosity for geothermal in Malaysia and it will likely be simpler to persuade people who we are able to generate electrical energy from our geothermal sources.

What’s the distinction between the present efforts for exploration and improvement and people prior to now that haven’t been profitable?

The previous geothermal mission deliberate for improvement in Sabah was not deserted on account of technical or geological causes. That they had already drilled to 1.5 kilometers depth there and encountered backside gap temperatures of round 200 °C. Nonetheless, there have been different causes that contributed to the mission being deserted, a few of which have been budget-related.

The present research are being led by PETRONAS and are being funded with their allocation to help Web Zero efforts. Within the coming days, representatives from PETRONAS will probably be visiting our geothermal labs in our college to debate extra about geothermal. We simply proceed with our work of letting extra individuals know and educating them about geothermal in Malaysia.

Contemplating the places and temperatures of geothermal in Malaysia, what purposes are you contemplating? Is there an current energy distribution infrastructure to enrich your work?

Many of the sizzling springs are situated in countryside, fairly removed from the town. Nonetheless, the new springs that we’re investigating proper now in Perak may be very close to to Tanjong Malim, the place we’ve got our nationwide automobile manufacturing facility or the so-called “Proton Metropolis.” We plan to generate electrical energy from geothermal in Ulu Slim then provide it to Proton Metropolis which is barely about 10 kilometers away.

Different geothermal websites being explored, like these in Sabah, aren’t situated removed from the principle energy distribution strains, so it will be straightforward to attach.

Past the ability distribution infrastructure, what we lack now are the rules for geothermal energy improvement and technology. We at the moment shouldn’t have a Feed-In Tariff (FIT) for electrical energy from geothermal sources, in addition to laws on conducting Environmental Influence Assessments (EIA) and Social Influence Research. That is one thing we proceed to barter for with SEDA and different associated events. We’d like this framework in place in order that we are able to encourage the personal sector to take part and make investments on geothermal tasks.

Proper now, we’re working with UKM Pakarunding to ascertain pointers for EIA and SIA. These will probably be prepared by the top of 2024.

Is geothermal a part of Malaysia’s methods for local weather change mitigation or emissions discount objectives?

The Malaysian authorities is at the moment simply specializing in different renewable energies which are already confirmed and have had success prior to now. There are already many success tales for photo voltaic power deployment and mini hydropower in Malaysia.

Geothermal remains to be fairly new for us and we shouldn’t have clear pointers but for its improvement. For this reason we preserve proposing geothermal tasks and educating others concerning the potential for geothermal. We’re in search of collaborations with those that wish to be pioneers for geothermal in Malaysia. We aren’t good in every little thing, so we’re very open to others with the experience, not simply within the technical facets, but additionally in securing funding and coping with authorities and associated events.

What’s the standing of in-country abilities and capabilities to facilitate geothermal improvement in Malaysia?

When it comes to native experience, I imagine we nonetheless want perhaps 5 years at the least earlier than Malaysia will be totally prepared for geothermal. For now, we’re constructing relationships with consultants in Indonesia and Thailand in order that they’ll switch their information and assist us put together inside that timeframe.

PETRONAS additionally talked about that they wish to assist guarantee that native universities can produce future leaders in geothermal. Which means we should always have geologists, geochemists, and geophysicists, and afterward chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineers that may assist develop, function, and keep geothermal tasks.

There have additionally been talks about creating in-country applied sciences to assist develop the geothermal trade, resembling in drilling or turbine manufacture. The economics of that is extra difficult and can seemingly require a bigger funding. Not many corporations are open to having discussions about geothermal, so that continues to be a significant problem for us.

What different types of help does the Malaysian geothermal sector want?

We are actually making an attempt to arrange a Malaysian Geothermal Affiliation (MyGA) to create illustration and consolidate the efforts of the native geothermal trade. This can even make it simpler for us to work with different worldwide teams just like the Worldwide Geothermal Affiliation (IGA).

Proper now, our focus is on creating the primary Proof of Idea mission for geothermal in Malaysia. A contingent from Malaysia lately visited Iceland for the Iceland Geothermal Convention the place we received suggestions for know-how suppliers and repair suppliers that may assist us. Our plan is to deploy a small-scale, modular geothermal energy plant in certainly one of our high websites in Malaysia, like in Perak. If we are able to show that geothermal electrical energy will be generated there, then it will likely be simpler to maneuver to a different location and develop a mission there.

We’re additionally within the means of requesting for funding help from worldwide companies just like the World Financial institution or JICA. We shouldn’t have a lot expertise on this space, so we might use some assist in getting related with the proper individuals. Once more, that is all nonetheless studying course of for us, however we’re as much as the problem.

How have locals reacted to the prospect of geothermal improvement? What advantages do you assume can geothermal ship to the native communities in Malaysia?

We’ve offered a number of instances about geothermal in Malaysia in worldwide and native conferences. Nonetheless, I wish to give attention to the native entrance as it will be important for us that locals know the worth of sizzling springs and this power will be utilized. There are numerous sizzling springs in Malaysia. In some instances, individuals have sizzling springs of their backyards however have no idea how useful these springs are.

If we wish to generate electrical energy from geothermal, then we might want to drill a deep properly and make investments an enormous quantity. We wish to emphasize that this will not be the case for direct use purposes of geothermal. We solely want to take a look at our close by neighbors like Thailand, the place geothermal warmth is getting used to dry tea leaves or present situations for fish breeding.

I simply got here from one assembly the place we talked about how geothermal clay can be utilized to make skincare or bathtub merchandise, like in Blue Lagoon in Iceland. It’s already internationally recognized that such minerals from geothermal deposits can have well being advantages. We’ve engaged with an area professional in chemical engineering to do analysis on this product.

These direct use purposes of geothermal are essential in getting native communities to have interaction and help this trade. We would like them to know that geothermal isn’t just for electrical energy technology, however there’s far more that may be accomplished with sizzling spring sources.

Are you able to inform us concerning the upcoming Malaysian Worldwide Geothermal Convention and what members can count on from it?

That is the primary time that Malaysia will probably be holding a geothermal convention so we did our greatest to present it a world scope. We’ve invited Dr Yunus Daud from the College of Indonesia and Dr Wipada Ngansom from Ramkhamhaeng College of Thailand as keynote audio system. We’ve additionally organized a number of native researchers to contribute and current their work in each oral and poster classes. The primary day of the convention (September 23) will give attention to the convention in addition to a small exhibition session with 4 or 5 cubicles.

On the second day (September 24), we can have extra discussions on the primary half of the day then will go for a go to to Ulu Slim, which is likely one of the high geothermal websites in Malaysia. We wish to present the situation the research that we’re doing with consultants within the matter of geothermal and sizzling springs in UKM. Then we’ll go to a sizzling spring resort in Sungkai and spend the evening there. Individuals will see how geothermal sources in Malaysia will be developed for tourism, not only for electrical energy technology.

On the third day, we’ll go to a different promising geothermal website known as Lojing. Floor manifestations on this website attain temperatures of as much as 75 °C and there had been a properly drilled right here beforehand as much as 138 meters depth. That is the location that we’ve got proposed to SEDA for the situation of the primary POC mission for a modular geothermal energy plant as a result of it’s actually near a village that wants a steady electrical energy provide.

With this package deal, we imagine that members can have an excellent mixture of a convention, exhibition, learnings from workshops, and a website go to. It’s an effective way to study concerning the sizzling springs in Malaysia and our potential and alternatives for geothermal improvement. We hope that extra worldwide members can be a part of our occasion in order that we are able to present them the work we’re doing and that Malaysia has one thing to contribute to international efforts to advance geothermal deployment.