Heat pumps are more than twice as efficient as fossil fuel heating systems in cold temperatures, research shows. Even at temperatures approaching -30C, heat pumps outperform oil and gas heating systems, according to the research from Oxford University and the Regulatory Assistance Project thinktank.

Cool Roof France has found an innovative way to use the 130,000 tonnes of waste oysters produced every year in France. As heat waves continue to scorch Europe, many of us are looking for cheap and innovative ways to keep our homes or workplaces cool. While air conditioning often proves effective, its environmental cost contributes further to the climate crisis. So what if we look into the past and to other parts of the world for inspiration and start painting our roofs white?

The head of the International Energy Agency urged the United States and China to set aside their differences and align on climate change, warning in an interview on Monday (Sep 4) that "geopolitical fractures" risked holding back the clean energy transition. Speaking at the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Fatih Birol told AFP that these international rifts, partly stoked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are "becoming more and more pronounced".

International solar developer ib vogt has secured a significant project through the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) in collaboration with Samsung SDI Energy Malaysia. The CGPP, initiated by the Energy Commission, facilitates virtual power purchase agreements for corporates to access renewable energy for their sustainability objectives. Samsung SDI Energy Malaysia, a subsidiary of the Korean multinational, will benefit from ib vogt APAC’s delivery of 29.99 MW AC-capacity of solar energy.

While the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) is seen as a positive step for Malaysia’s low-carbon future, OCBC Treasury Research suggests greater investments and government mandates are needed to support the necessary capabilities and infrastructure for energy transition projects.  

Malaysia is positioning itself as a regional leader in the export of renewable energy (RE), and the key to achieving this ambition lies in the exploration and adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). According to Gading Kencana Sdn Bhd’s MD Datuk (Dr.) Ir Guntor Tobeng (picture), BESS acts as a crucial bridge between integrated renewable energy generation projects, such as expansive solar farms. He said these systems have the capacity to store excess energy generated during peak periods and subsequently release it during off-peak periods.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, has teamed up with RFC Ambrian to form a new company to commercialize electrolysis tech. CSIRO said the aim is to produce hydrogen with 30% less electricity than existing alkaline and polymer electrolyte membrane technologies. The CSIRO and Sydney-headquartered RFC Ambrian have co-founded Hadean Energy to advance the development of the CSIRO’s tubular solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) technology.

A total of 12 Malaysian projects have won the ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA) 2023 for the adoption of sustainable energy practices. In a statement on Aug 26, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change said the AEA 2023 awards ceremony was held in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of the recently concluded 41st Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (Amem).

Tenaga Nasional Bhd(TNB) has set in motion plans to support the country’s net-zero aspirations, said chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Majid. He said this encapsulates concerted planning on generation decarbonisation, enabling flexible renewable energy (RE), cross-border grid exchanges and empowering cross-sectorial electrification and prosumer participation.

The Malaysian government will proceed with the establishment of the National Energy Council, said Economy Minister Mohd Rafizi Ramli, in order to facilitate the implementation of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). The council will be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with the Ministry of Economy as the secretariat, Rafizi said at the launch of the second phase of the NETR here.

The government has not ruled out the use of nuclear energy to achieve Malaysia’s energy transition targets, according to Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli, as well as Natural Resources, Energy and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. When asked whether nuclear energy has a role in Malaysia’s energy transition plans during a session at the Energy Transition Conference on Tuesday (Aug 29), Rafizi replied in the affirmative, adding that he thinks nuclear energy will be a part of the nation’s plan in time.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on August 18 launched a project to promote the economical and efficient use of energy in supporting and food processing industries in Vietnam. The two-year project was funded by the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) and will be carried out by VCCI. The overall objective of the project is to raise awareness in the two industries, support business access to finance for investments and the economical and efficient use of energy.