Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd (SEC) has inked multiple natural gas sales agreements (GSAs) and Heads of Agreement (HOA) with major investors in the state. In a statement, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that with this development, the state’s largest domestic supplier and transporter of natural gas is now playing an integral role in supporting the growth of industries and economic development in Sabah.  

Recycling old solar panels isn’t easy - but a group of Australian scientists may have found a solution. Solar panels are key to the clean energy transition. But 90 per cent currently end up in landfill once they have stopped working. A team of researchers from Australia’s Deakin University are working to change that. They’ve developed a new thermal and chemical technique to extract silicon from the obsolete panels.

A recent report suggests that India’s rural economy could benefit from a $50 billion market opportunity by using clean energy-powered appliances for livelihood activities, especially among women.

Chinese scientists say they have designed the most powerful droplet-based nanogenerator so far, with an output of 3,000 volts. A single discharge of the tiny device – inspired by the electric ray fish – can light up more than 1,260 LED bulbs, each rated above three volts, said the team, in a paper published by the peer-reviewed journal Energy & Environmental Science.

Renewable energy plants are struggling to supply all their output to customers, with one plant in New South Wales wasting half of its output over a full year. Resolving congestion on the main electricity grid will top the agenda on Friday at the first meeting of federal, state and territory energy ministers in 2023. The gathering in Newcastle will approve a slew of changes aimed at reducing lost electricity and lowering the risks for clean energy investors, industry sources say. Queensland also plans to push for a separate national green hydrogen strategy.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is considering lower electricity subsidies for high-income households in the second half of 2023 as part of the government's subsidy rationalisation plan, said Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.

The Malaysian Gas Association (MGA) is urging the government to maintain the country’s climate commitments, especially the aspiration to achieve net-zero emissions as early as 2050. Among the commitments is the Low Carbon Nation Aspiration (LCNA) 2040 embedded in the National Energy Policy (NEP) 2022-2040 which was launched in September 2022. 

The Egyptian government is considering a proposal to regularly set electricity prices every 3 or 6 months, similar to the Fuel Automatic Pricing Committee, unnamed government officials told Asharq business on February 8th. The proposal comes after the significant drop in the Egyptian pound against the US dollar as well as the increase in gas and diesel prices, according to the sources.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has inked several Memoranda of understanding (MOU) in Thailand, including with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), to set up a joint working committee to study interconnection enhancement between Malaysia and Thailand.  

Malaysia has urged the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) to continue supporting a regional energy transition agenda based on local needs and social realities. Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Malaysia also hoped that Irena would continue its work in supporting regional organisations such as the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean).

European countries’ bill to shield households and companies from soaring energy costs has climbed to nearly €800 billion, researchers said on Monday, urging countries to be more targeted in their spending to tackle the energy crisis. European Union countries have now earmarked or allocated €681 billion in energy crisis spending, while Britain allocated €103 billion and Norway €8.1 billon since September 2021, according to the analysis by think-tank Bruegel.

The European Commission on Monday proposed new rules under which hydrogen produced with nuclear energy is to be considered green. Rather than being labelled as “renewable” though, hydrogen made using nuclear electricity will be termed as “low-carbon” hydrogen. According to EU officials, there is “no place” for nuclear energy when producing renewable hydrogen, even if this low-carbon alternative will be allowed in the mix.