All eyes are on Brussels this week as European Union leaders convene in Belgium’s capital to find a joint solution to tackle the energy crisis, which has been gnawing at the bloc for more than a year. Energy prices – determined by the price of crude oil, natural gas and coal – began soaring last year as a result of COVID lockdowns being lifted, followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this year.

Tightening markets for liquefied natural gas (LNG) worldwide and major oil producers cutting supply have put the world in the middle of "the first truly global energy crisis," Faith Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said on Tuesday. Rising imports of LNG to Europe amid the Ukraine conflict and a potential rebound in China's need for the fuel will tighten the market as only 20 billion cubic meters of new LNG capacity will come to market next year, Birol said during the 15th Singapore International Energy Week.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd's (TNB) expansion plans, which are in line with its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, will be the group’s main growth catalyst in the quarters ahead, says Kenanga Research. The research house said the utility giant had recently announced two new power plant projects, namely the repowering of its Sungai Perak hydro power plant and a greenfield 2,100 megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas-fired power plant in Kapar.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has entered into a strategic partnership with Gamuda Land — the property arm of Gamuda Bhd — to build two electron stations for electric vehicle (EV) charging in property development projects in Selangor. According to a statement, the two companies on Thursday (Oct 27) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop the stations at Gamuda Cove in the southern Klang Valley and Gamuda Gardens in the northern Klang Valley for communities in the projects and visitors to the water theme park at Gamuda Cove.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) through its subsidiary, GSPARX Sdn Bhd, signed a supply agreement for renewable energy (SARE) to provide smart energy solutions to the Rompin District Council (MDR). The agreement will enable GSPARX to install a solar photovoltaic system with a capacity of 88.32kWP on the roof of the MDR administration building at no cost. Once the installation of the solar panels is completed in March 2023, MDR is expected to save almost RM631,000 on electricity bills during the 20-year contract period, as well as RM1.03 million over the 25-year period.

A bladeless wind energy solution designed to integrate with building electrical systems and existing solar energy systems is helping commercial property owners meet demands for on-site renewable energy. Aeromine Technologies’ innovative, motionless system easily installs on the edge of a building generating up to 50% more energy at the same cost as rooftop solar.

WITH the right policies in place, Malaysia has the potential to be the preferred destination in the Asean region for greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) in the energy sector, according to US-based think tank Foresight Economics. This is particularly so given the energy security issue faced by many countries due to the war in Ukraine, the pandemic’s lingering impact, inflation, and the consequent higher interest rate environment that will affect investment decisions across the world.

Energy demand in Southeast Asia countries could triple by 2050 and the region could become net importer of natural gas and coal before that if the region do not develop alternative sources of energy, a study by the region's energy sector body found. For the 10-nation group Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), diversification of energy sources would be crucial, not only due to efforts to cut emissions, but also to meet rising energy demand, Nuki Agya Utama, executive director of ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) said on Thursday.

Renewable energy met all of Greece’s electricity needs for the first time ever last week, the country’s independent power transmission operator IPTO announced. For at least five hours on Friday, renewables accounted for 100 per cent of Greece’s power generation, reaching a record high of 3,106 megawatt hours.

The World Bank said on Monday it is launching a trust fund aimed at pooling public funds to provide grants for projects to reduce carbon emissions, including decommissioning coal-fired power plants. The Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) fund will provide grants to developing countries as they deliver pre-agreed results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, World Bank president David Malpass said in a LinkedIn post.

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) and over 20 leaders from governments and international organizations agreed and called for action to increase climate resilience of health-care facilities and increase indoor air quality through sustainable energy. The Call to Action, focuses on 6 areas based on a Strategic Roadmap to promote healthier populations through clean and sustainable energy to address inequalities and health concerns caused by lack of access for clean cooking and electricity in health care facilities.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) wholly-owned subsidiary TNB Research Sdn Bhd (TNBR) has partnered with Sedania Technologies Sdn Bhd (STSB) to evaluate the potential of harnessing energy from excess water in dams and water reservoirs throughout Malaysia. Under the partnership, STSB — Sedania Innovator Bhd’s (Sedania) sustainable energy arm — will deploy energy-efficient micro-hydropower turbines developed by TNBR to generate electricity from water released from dams, TNB and STSB said in a joint statement on Sunday (Sept 25).