German Chamber Receives 20 Percent Of Inquiries For Renewable Energy In Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- About 20 per cent of the 2,000 inquiries from Germany received annually by the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed interest to participate in Malaysia's renewable energy business, says General Manager Thomas Brandt. He said the remaining 80 per cent were involved in traditional businesses and were mostly in green-related and energy efficient businesses. "At present, there is an immense interest and potential in biomass utilisation to produce energy. So, the German technology partners are waiting with interest to establish partnerships," Brandt told reporters after a briefing to Malaysian companies on a Solar-Greentech business trip to Germany. Brandt said in Malaysia, biomass was currently the cheapest form of renewable energy and had the highest availability in terms of renewable energy resource. He said the Malaysian government had initiated efforts and provided support to establish biomass projects but there were still major barriers in developing biomass technology extensively in the country. The barriers were in the form of lack of information in using biomass as an alternative to generate electricity, risk probabilities associated in applying new technologies and financial concerns. Brandt also said that Malaysia's Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) for biomass at 42 (US$0.14) to 45 sen (US$0.15) per KW was unattractive for plantation firms to participate in the business. "Malaysia had embarked on the right path by introducing the FIT system. It would be more attractive for Malaysian plantation firms to venture into if the rates were between 50 sen (US$0.16) and 60 sen (US$0.20) per KW for 21 years," he added. He also said that the business trip to Germany from June 12 to 21 would present a wide view into the research and development of Solar and Green Technology in Germany. Highlights of the trip include a visit to the world's largest solar trade fair "Intersolar 2012", business match-making and a visit to a famous solar power plant atop the highest mountain in Germany. Intersolar 2012 will be the world's largest gathering of manufacturing, suppliers, distributors, utility and service companies in the solar business. -- BERNAMA