Renewable energy accounted for more than 30% of the world’s electricity for the first time last year following a rapid rise in wind and solar power, according to new figures. A report on the global power system has found that the world may be on the brink of driving down fossil fuel generation, even as overall demand for electricity continues to rise.  

Every day, with bare hands, Rukmini Baburao Kumbhar, collects around 50kg (eight stone) of fresh cow dung. She is part of a spiritual group that runs a small ashram (a religious retreat) in a village in the north-western Indian state of Maharashtra. Collecting cow dung is not, primarily, an effort to keep the place tidy. Instead, the cow dung is used to make biomethane.

Malaysia has launched the commercial trading of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through the Malaysian Green Attribute Trading System (mGATS) to be operated by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA). The commercial trading of the certificates through mGATS commenced on May 8, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) said in a statement. Tenaga will ensure that the certificates are internationally certified by reputable registries, such as the I-TRACK Foundation, it noted.

On Karkar island in Papua New Guinea, hundreds of coconut trees stand tall, stretching far into the distance. Decades ago, the fruit was a lucrative export but over the years it has become less prized on international markets. Now, the small island off the north coast of the country, is putting coconuts to another use.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed on Tuesday, Malaysia’s preparedness to explore new areas of cooperation with Saudi Arabia, in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030, especially in the fields of renewable energy and hydrogen. In addition, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, welcomed Saudi Arabian investors to Malaysia to explore potential investments in high-value projects.

Chinese scientists have developed a water-based battery with nearly twice the energy density of a traditional lithium battery, which could open up aqueous batteries for use in electric vehicles, according to the team.

This remarkable project promises to open up zero-carbon energy storage to a broad range of areas without huge hills, delivering 2.5 times the power of water-based hydro. A pilot plant has been greenlit, with full-size, grid-scale projects to follow.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has identified 18 locations for the development of solid Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants throughout the country as a new method of solid waste management to eradicate landfills. Its minister Nga Kor Ming said the development of the plants, which is the country’s new direction in managing solid waste disposal, will use the latest and advanced technology that has been proven successful in several European countries besides China and Japan.

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) has come up with the affordable “Solar BOLEH!” programme to enable more people to adopt solar energy by installing solar panels in their homes, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also energy transition and water transformation minister, said Petra is collaborating with the AEON Group, Bank Simpanan Nasional and SOLS Energy to implement the programme.

Ministers from the G7 countries agreed on Tuesday to end the use of unabated coal power plants by 2035 – but left the door open for those heavily reliant on coal to breach the deadline.

Malaysia is poised to become a powerhouse in clean and renewable energy in the Southeast Asian region, especially with the emergence of high-tech industries driving up the electricity demand, said industry players.

China is the world’s top producer and consumer of electric vehicles, and it is now seeking the lead in hydrogen-powered vehicles. It unveiled its first national-level hydrogen energy development plan in 2022, and has tested its first hydrogen-powered passenger train