Azlan Othman
The Ministry of Energy is considering the use of floating solar panel technology. Several suitable areas in the country’s waters as well as reservoirs were identified to house the technology, Minister of Energy Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein said on the sixth day of the 18th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting yesterday.
A request for proposal (RFP) for the development of a solar energy site with a capacity of 30 megawatts in Kampong Belimbing in Subok was issued by the Ministry of Energy last year. The RFP attracted the interest of foreign and local entities.
The minister said Brunei Darussalam’s energy sector is largely hydrocarbon-based and the ministry is giving priority to low-carbon, energy efficient alternatives.
In 2021, the Energy Efficiency (Standards and Labelling) Order 2021 was approved and will take effect in June this year. The Order allows people to make better choices when purchasing energy-efficient electrical appliances.
The shift to cleaner energy sources ensures that the Sultanate sticks to its commitment to tackle climate change issues. The Ministry of Energy through the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP) will continue to lead initiatives in reducing carbon emissions from the energy sector.
The ministry established the Industrial Emissions Committee (IEC) in July 2021 whose members include oil and gas companies, representatives of local institutions of higher learning and government regulatory agencies.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny said the Ministry of Energy is encouraging the use of solar energy in both public and private sectors by expanding the net metering programme and introducing renewable portfolio standards. These initiatives will increase the involvement of individuals and companies towards achieving environmental and climate sustainability.
