Scientists in the US have developed a device that can harvest humidity in the air to create a clean electricity supply. A team of engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been making clean electricity from thin air. According to the university, “nearly any material can be turned into a device that continuously harvests electricity from humidity in the air”.

Sarawak shared its comprehensive plans to tackle energy transition and the climate crisis during the International Sustainable Palm Oil Forum (ISPOF) at the Caledonian Club in London recently. Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni presented the state’s comprehensive plans.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has formed a new sustainability division to drive the implementation of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, thus reinforcing its sustainability commitment and responsible energy transition (ET) journey.

Bangladesh could face further power cuts due to higher demand, its power minister said, as a fuel shortage sparked shutdowns of several power generating units, including its biggest coal-fired plant. The country has faced disruptions to electricity supply due to erratic weather this year, with soaring temperatures pushing up demand in April and a deadly cyclone cutting off supplies of natural gas to power plants the following month.

The European Commission said today it had decided not to prolong emergency measures introduced last year to shield consumers from soaring energy prices, adding those measures had helped to contribute to a calming of European electricity markets.  

European gas prices have plunged to the lowest since mid-2021, when Russia was just beginning to squeeze supplies before its invasion of Ukraine, helping to reverse a surge in inflation and bring relief to consumers. The slump – gas futures are down by two-thirds already this year – hasn’t just eased the pressure on household budgets. It also undermines one of the biggest bargaining chips held by President Vladimir Putin – the ability to squeeze the region’s gas supplies.

As one of the nations most exposed to the impact of climate change, Cambodia has demonstrated its determination and readiness to join the international community to effectively address this pressing global issue. The determination was made as the Ministry of Environment, the ASEAN Secretariat and Germany's international development agency GIZ co-hosted the 3rd ASEAN Partnership Meeting – ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) -- on May 25.  

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli (picture) announced the first phase of the Energy Transition Roadmap will be set up by the end of June this year, paving the way for Malaysia to develop the first cross-border regional electricity system. He said the system would allow the nation to rapidly scale up the whole region’s energy capacity, given the lots of hydro potentials in Malaysia. 

Terengganu’s first two biogas power plants, built through a joint venture between state subsidiaries, TDM Bhd (TDM) and Concord Group, have been fully operational and have successfully supplied two megawatts of power directly to Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) grid. Built at the cost of RM50 million, the two plants began operating in March and June last year, said TDM chairman Datuk Tengku Farok Hussin Tengku Abdul Jalil.

Australia and the US have announced a bilateral agreement to collaborate on legislation to aid the green energy transition in both countries with a new compact.  The Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact will see the two countries adopt shared energy goals and policies.  At a press conference, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated: “The [US] President will support the Congress taking action to treat Australian suppliers and activity as domestic activity in the United States for the purpose of the Defense Production Act.”  

France, Italy and the Czech Republic are among eight countries pushing to weaken new EU emissions limits for cars, saying they are overly ambitious and unrealistic for automakers to hit. European Union countries and lawmakers are preparing to negotiate the Euro 7 regulation, which from 2025 would tighten vehicle emission limits for pollutants including nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. In a joint paper, sent to other EU members and seen by Reuters, the eight countries said parts of the law, including curbs on exhaust pipe emissions, should be scrapped entirely.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) announced that it supports the provision of targeted subsidies to help maintain the country’s economic growth and to help lighten cost pressures on low-income groups. TNB chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Majid said that in late 2022, the government announced the implementation of a targeted electricity subsidy scheme for domestic users to continue enjoying tariff rebates on their electricity bills and did not increase the surcharge on tariffs for a select group of small businesses and industries.