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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY

AHMAD MALIKI OMAR PhD

Head
Green Energy Research Center (GERC)
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Komplek Teratai 1
Universiti Teknologi MARA
40450 Shah Alam
Selangor

Email: maliki_omar@salam.uitm.edu.my
ambomaliki@gmail.com.sg
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INTRODUCTION

1. Definition 3
2. Introduction 3
3. The benefit of Renewable Energy Resources 4
4. Challenges of implementing REN in Malaysia 4
5. Malaysia government effort to promote REN 5
6. REN in this course 6
7. Solar Energy 6
8. Hydro Power 7
9. Wind Generator System 8
10. Biomass 8
11. Geothermal 11
12. Wave Energy 12
Tutorial 14
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1. Definition
 RE is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and
geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished).

2. Introduction
 Conventional energy sources based on oil, coal, and natural gas are damaging economic
progress, environment and human life.

 These traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources are facing increasing pressure on a host
of environmental fronts, with perhaps the most serious challenge confronting the future use
of coal being the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas reduction targets (1997).

The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at fighting global warming. The UNFCCC is an
international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving "stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system."

Under the Protocol, almost all countries commit themselves to a reduction (5.2%) of four
greenhouse gases (GHG) (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride) and
two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) produced by them, and all
member countries (184) give general commitments.

 Renewable energy (REN) can be seen as a way to reduce GHG emissions.

 RE sources currently supply somewhere between 15 percent and 20 percent of world's total
energy demand.

 The supply is dominated by traditional biomass, mostly fuel wood used for cooking and
heating, especially in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

 New RE sources (solar energy, wind energy, modern bio-energy, geothermal energy, and
small hydropower) are currently contributing about two percent.

 A number of scenario studies have investigated the potential contribution of renewable to

global energy supplies, indicating that in the second half of the 21st century their contribution
might range from the present figure of nearly 20% to more than 50% with the right policies in
place.

 The potential of RE sources is enormous as they can in principle meet many times the world's
energy demand.

 RE sources such as small hydropower, wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal can provide
sustainable energy services, based on the use of routinely available, indigenous resources.
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 A transition to renewable-based energy systems is looking increasingly likely as the costs of

solar and wind power systems have dropped substantially in the past 30 years, and continue
to decline, while the price of oil and gas continue to fluctuate.

 In fact, fossil fuel and renewable energy prices, social and environmental costs are heading
in opposite directions.

 Furthermore, the economic and policy mechanisms needed to support the widespread
dissemination and sustainable markets for renewable energy systems have also rapidly
evolved.

 It is becoming clear that future growth in the energy sector is primarily in the new regime of
renewable, and to some extent natural gas-based systems, and not in conventional oil and
coal sources.

3. The benefit of Renewable Energy Resources

 To increase standard of living especially those in remote area – not accessible to grid power
supply - rural electrification. Remote communities and also remote school.
 To enhance energy security against energy crisis – fossil fuel keep on increasing. Benefits to
those countries producing oil – non producing oil countries are suffered.
 To follow global energy situation and demand – carbon free energy sources demand will go
up in the coming years.
 To make it possible to meet Kyoto targets more quickly.
 To help reduce our dependency on fossil fuels
o Price of fossil fuel keeps on increasing creates economic instability.
o Fossil fuels reserve keep on depleting. Uncontrolled usage will finish faster.
 To fights against climate change
o Fossil fuels create environmental pollution, emission of hazardous gasses, global
warming etc. Depleting ozon layer. Increase earth temperature.
 To create local employment
o Job creation. Workers spend money - creates local economic activity (jobs and revenue)
in other sectors such as retail, restaurant, leisure and entertainment. More jobs will be
created if the materials and technologies are processed and manufactured locally.
Maintenance services.

4. Challenges of implementing REN in Malaysia

 Cost – cost of power generation is still high because almost all technologies are imported.
 Suitable site – not all sites are suitable for REN. Wind – required adequate wind speed.
Microhydro – required continuous water flow. Biomass – required continuous supply.
 Human resources – lack of skill worked in this area.
 Not sure of feasibility and sustainability of the RE sources – making investment restricted.
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5. Malaysia government effort to promote REN

 Subsidised REN for rural electrification

 Support local manufactures
 Encourage PV manufacturers to set up their factory in Malaysia
 Malaysia National RE Policy and action Plan 2010
o To enhance the utilisation of indigenous renewable energy resources to contribute
towards national electricity supply security and sustainable socio-economic development
o Objectives:
 To increase RE contribution in the national power generation mix;
 To facilitate the growth of the RE industry;
 To ensure reasonable RE generation costs;
 To conserve the environment for future generation; and
 To enhance awareness on the role and importance of RE.
o 8 Malaysia Plan (2001 – 2005); RE as the 5th fuel. 5% RE in energy mix
th

o 9th Malaysia Plan (2006 – 2010); RE Grid connected: 300MW Peninsular , 50MW
Sabah
 56% natural gas, 36% Coal, 6% hydro, 0.2% Oil and 1.8% REN.
 Carbon intensity reduction target: 40% lower than 2005 levels by 2020
 REN as of 31 December 2013
o 149.78 MW connected to grid
o Off-grid: > 430 MW (Biomass and Solar Hybrid)
 Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 725)
o SEDA
 Feed in tariff - a mechanism that allows electricity produced from indigenous
RE resources to be sold to power utilities at a fixed premium price for specific
duration
 Training – to provide knowledgeable and skill worker in REN.
 Disseminate knowledge and new technology through seminars
o An Act to provide for the establishment and implementation of a special tariff system
to catalyse the generation of renewable energy and to provide for related matters.
o Outlines provisions for:
 FiT mechanism‘s implementation
 Approved as of January 2014
o Biogas: 29.53 MW
o Biomass: 166.49 MW
o Small Hydro: 130.99 MW
o Solar PV: 209.06 MW
o Total = 536.07 MW
 Establishment of RE Fund
 SEDA Malaysia as implementing agency
o Enforced on 1st December 2011
 Malaysia National RE target for energy mix
o 2015: 5.5%
o 2020: 11%
o 2030: 17%
 Way forward
o Redefined REN to include off-grid REN
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o Ramp-up REN capacity through; utility scale solar PV, net-metering and introduce
regional standards for PV systems.
o Geothermal –potential assessment
o Wind – wind resources assessment

6. REN in this course

The following types of renewable energy will be covered in detail in this course:
a. Solar energy
b. Hydropower
c. Wind energy
Other types of REN will be explained in brief:-
d. Biomass
f. Geothermal
g wave
h. Tidal

7. Solar Energy
 Two types:
 Active solar energy – use special device to generate electrical from sunlight.
o Photovoltaic Power system
 PV cell generates DC power once receives sun light
 Small size (e.g. calculator) up to MWp size (e.g. Solar farm)
 Use to generate electricity
 Applicable to standalone PV power system
 Applicable to grid connected PV power system
 Passive solar energy - use heat from sunlight.
o Solar thermal
 Small size - applicable for hot water
 Large size – applicable for steam turbine to generate electricity
 Solar energy
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 Advantages:
o No air pollution during operation.
o No noise
o Because sunlight is dispersed, small-scale, dispersed applications are a better match
to the resource.
o They can take advantage of unused space on the roofs of homes and buildings and in
urban and industrial lots.
o In solar building designs, the structure itself acts as the collector, so there is no need
for any additional space at all.

o Issues:

o The primary environmental, health, and safety issues involve how they are
manufactured, installed, and ultimately disposed of.
o Materials used in some solar energy systems can create health and safety hazards for
workers and anyone else coming into contact with them. In particular, the
manufacturing of photovoltaic cells often requires hazardous materials such as arsenic
and cadmium.
o There is an additional-probably very small-danger that hazardous fumes released from
photovoltaic modules attached to burning homes or buildings could injure fire fighters.
o The large amount of land required for utility-scale solar power plants-approximately one
square kilometer for every 20-60 megawatts (MW) generated - poses an additional
problem, especially where wildlife protection is a concern.

8. Hydro Power
 Water flow must be available throughout the year for the system to be sustainable.
 Principle operation of hydro:-
o The hydro power system was designed to create high pressure water.
o High pressure water rotates the turbine.
o Turbine is coupled with AC alternator
o Thus rotating AC alternator generates electricity

 Advantages:
o Could generate large scale of electric power.
o No air pollution

 Issues:
o The reservoirs created by such projects frequently inundate large areas of forest,
farmland, wildlife habitats, scenic areas, and even towns. In addition, the dams can
cause radical changes in river ecosystems both upstream and downstream.
o Small hydropower plants using reservoirs can cause similar types of damage, though
obviously on a smaller scale.
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9. Wind Generator System

 WGS is suitable for location where average wind speed is more than 2.5 m/s. Higher wind
speed is better.
 In Malaysia, wind speed is not consistent and east coast is comparatively higher than west
coast.
 Principle operation:
o Wind power rotates wind blade
o Wind blade coupled with alternator or generator
o Generator rotates and produce electricity

 Advantages:
o Could utilises unused land.
o It produces no air or water pollution, involves no toxic or hazardous substances (other
than those commonly found in large machines), and poses no threat to public safety.
 Issues:
o Gives impact on the cultural historical landscape.
o If no income - Attitude “Not-In-My-Backyard” position.
o If become source of income – “Please-In-My-Backyard”
o For greater wind resources – required transmission line – potential result in social
conflict over land use.
o May fear that their presence might reduce property values.
o Concern about bird deaths from collisions with spinning rotors.
o Social concern over distribution of economic benefit and fairness of planning process.
Who benefit? - Communities with access with land and wind resources

10. Biomass
 Very wide range of technologies available.
 Biomass, a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living
organisms, such as wood, waste, (hydrogen) gas, and alcohol fuels.
 Biomass is commonly plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce heat. In this sense,
living biomass can also be included, as plants can also generate electricity while still alive.
 The most conventional way in which biomass is used however still relies on direct incineration.
Forest residues for example (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps), yard clippings,
wood chips and garbage are often used for this.
 However, biomass also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers or
chemicals. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It
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excludes organic materials such as fossil fuels which have been transformed by geological
processes into substances such as coal or petroleum.
 Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus,
switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, and a variety of tree species,
ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil). The particular plant used is usually not important
to the end products, but it does affect the processing of the raw material.
 Although fossil fuels have their origin in ancient biomass, they are not considered biomass by
the generally accepted definition because they contain carbon that has been "out" of the
carbon cycle for a very long time. Their combustion therefore disturbs the carbon dioxide
content in the atmosphere.
 The name “biomass” was established around 1975 to describe natural materials used as
energy sources.
 In general, biomass is a product of photosynthesis. It can be the direct product of
photosynthesis (e.g. leaves, stems, etc) or indirect product of photosynthesis (e.g. animal
mass resulting from the consumption of plant material).
 Biomass can be used for fuels, power production, and products that would otherwise be made
from fossil fuels. In such scenarios, biomass can provide an array of benefits. For example:
o The use of biomass energy has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Burning biomass releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels.
However, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide captured by photosynthesis millions of years
ago—an essentially "new" greenhouse gas. Biomass, on the other hand, releases carbon
dioxide that is largely balanced by the carbon dioxide captured in its own growth
(depending how much energy was used to grow, harvest, and process the fuel).
o The use of biomass can reduce dependence on foreign oil because biofuels are the only
renewable liquid transportation fuels available.
o Biomass energy could supports agricultural and forest-product industries. The main
biomass feed stocks for powers are paper mill residue, lumber mill scrap, and municipal
waste.
o Biomass is the oldest source of energy used by human.
o Biomass is the largest renewable energy source in use today.
o Biomass has the highest potential in the near future.
o Biomass can provide various forms of energy (heat, electricity and transport fuels).
o Meet the requirements of reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

Biofuel
 Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels,
called "biofuels," to help meet transportation fuel needs. The two most common types of
biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel.
 Ethanol is an alcohol, the same as in beer and wine (although ethanol used as a fuel is modified
to make it undrinkable). It is most commonly made by fermenting any biomass high in
carbohydrates through a process similar to beer brewing.
 Ethanol can also be produced by a process called gasification. Gasification systems use high
temperatures and a low-oxygen environment to convert biomass into synthesis gas, a mixture
of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The synthesis gas, or "syngas," can then be chemically
converted into ethanol and other fuels.
 Ethanol is mostly used as blending agent with gasoline to increase octane and cut down carbon
monoxide and other smog-causing emissions. Some vehicles, called Flexible Fuel Vehicles,
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are designed to run on E85, an alternative fuel with much higher ethanol content than regular
gasoline.
 Biodiesel is made by combining alcohol (usually methanol) with vegetable oil, animal fat, or
recycled cooking grease. It can be used as an additive (typically 20%) to reduce vehicle
emissions or in its pure form as a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines.

Biopower
 Biopower, or biomass power, is the use of biomass to generate electricity. Biopower system
technologies include direct-firing, cofiring, gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion.
 Most biopower plants use direct-fired systems. They burn bioenergy feedstocks directly to
produce steam. This steam drives a turbine, which turns a generator that converts the power
into electricity. In some biomass industries, the spent steam from the power plant is also used
for manufacturing processes or to heat buildings. Such combined heat and power systems
greatly increase overall energy efficiency. Paper mills, the largest current producers of biomass
power, generate electricity or process heat as part of the process for recovering pulping
chemicals.
 Co-firing refers to mixing biomass with fossil fuels in conventional power plants. Coal-fired
power plants can use co-firing systems to significantly reduce emissions, especially sulfur
dioxide emissions.
 Gasification systems use high temperatures and an oxygen-starved environment to convert
biomass into synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The synthesis gas,
or "syngas," can then be chemically converted into other fuels or products, burned in a
conventional boiler, or used instead of natural gas in a gas turbine.
 Gas turbines are very much like jet engines, only they turn electric generators instead of
propelling a jet. High-efficiency to begin with, they can be made to operate in a "combined
cycle," in which their exhaust gases are used to boil water for steam, a second round of power
generation, and even higher efficiency.
 Using a similar thermochemical process but different conditions (totally excluding rather than
limiting oxygen, in a simplified sense) will pyrolyze biomass to a liquid rather than gasify it. As
with syngas, pyrolysis oil can be burned to generate electricity or used as a chemical source
for making fuels, plastics, adhesives, or other bioproducts.
 The natural decay of biomass under anaerobic conditions produces methane, which can be
captured and used for power production. In landfills, wells can be drilled to release the methane
from decaying organic matter. Then pipes from each well carry the methane to a central point,
where it is filtered and cleaned before burning. This produces electricity and reduces the
release of methane (a very potent greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere.
 Methane can also be produced from biomass through a process called anaerobic digestion.
Natural consortia of bacteria are used to decompose organic matter in the absence of oxygen
in closed reactors. Gas suitable for power production is produced, and possibly troublesome
wastes (such as those at sewage treatment plants or feedlots) are turned to usable compost.
 Gasification, anaerobic digestion, and other biomass power technologies can be used in small,
modular systems with internal combustion or other generators. These could be helpful for
providing electrical power to villages remote from the electrical grid—particularly if they can
use the waste heat for crop drying or other local industries. Small, modular systems can also
fit well with distributed energy generation systems.
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 Advantages:

o Emissions from conventional biomass-fueled power plants are generally similar to

emissions from coal-fired power plants, with the notable difference that biomass facilities
produce very little sulfur dioxide or toxic metals (cadmium, mercury, and others).
o Using biomass-derived methanol and ethanol as vehicle fuels, instead of conventional
gasoline, could substantially reduce some types of pollution from automobiles.

 Issues:

o Derived from the burning of plant matter, raises more serious environmental issues.
o Combustion of biomass and biomass-derived fuels produces air pollution, including carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates such as soot and ash.
o Local air pollution – required proper site, location and type of power plants.
o Concerns about the impacts of using land to grow energy crops.
o Wide variety of production and conversion methods, each with different environmental
impacts. Involve new technology – increase concern about unknown risks.

11. Geothermal
 Underground heat
 Geothermal drilling is expensive mainly because the technology developed is similar to oil
exploration.
 Geothermal power requires deeper, larger holes, often through hard rock.
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 Advantages:
o Large scale of power generation
 Issues:
o Disturb great natural beauty.
o Safe waste disposal.
o Close loop system is very expensive. The injection may also help prevent land
subsidence.
o Expensive. Use oil drilling technology.

12. Wave Energy

 Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy
to do useful work — for example for electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping
of water (into reservoirs).
 Types:
o The Duck is shown in the figure below. Ducks work by independently rotating about a
long linkage; this maintains its stability by out spanning wave crests. The front edge of
the duck matches the wave particle motion. In moderate seas, the more cylindrical back
portion creates no stern waves but when the weather is bad these parts shed energy
through wave making to the rear. The device requires a depth of at least 80 metres and
uses a system of weights and floats to give almost constant tension in the mooring
cables.
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o Hinged Contour Device

As the Pelamis moves with the waves, the motion is resisted at the joints by hydraulic
rams that pump high-pressure oil through hydraulic motors via smoothing accumulators.
These motors are used to drive generators to create power. It has been said that a
750kW device would be 150m long and 3.5m in diameter and comprise five sections.

o Oscillating Water Column (OWC)

This method of generating power from the tide works by using a column of water as a
piston to pump air and drive a turbine to generate power. This type of device can be
fixed to the seabed or installed on shore.

References

1. National Sustainable Energy Framework and Policy, Datuk Loo Took Gee, , secretary-General
Ministry of Energy, Green technology & Water Malaysia, 2nd International Sustainable Energy
Summit (ISES) 2014, 18th March 2014
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Tutorial

Q1 Define renewable energy. State four types of renewable source of energy and discuss the
advantage and disadvantages of each type.

Q2 The cost of generating energy from renewable energy resources is very expensive. List and
discuss three benefits of supporting renewable energy. Your discussion should include socio-
economic.

Q3 Discuss the development of biomass in Malaysia. Your discussion should include type of feed
stock, site selection, difficulty of implementation and technology.

Q4 Solar thermal is a very promising renewable technology. With the aid of suitable diagram,
describe how concentrated solar power can be used to generate electricity.

Q5 State four types of renewable energy (REN) sources in Malaysia. For each type of REN,
describe the challenges of implementing the technology in Malaysia.

Q6 Briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of the following technologies:

(i) Solar Farm
(ii) Hydro power using dam for water catchment.
(iii) Geothermal

Q7 Describe four factors for sustainability of renewable energy in remote areas in Malaysia.

Q8 Describe three benefits of supporting renewable energy.

Q9 Describe the roles of government, local community and service provider for sustainability of
renewable energy in remote areas.

Q10 Describe how renewable energy creates jobs and economy benefit to local people.

Q11 State two types of storage energy technology used in renewable energy system and explain the
principle operation of each technology.

Q12 Describe why energy storage is a very important component in renewable energy power system.
List three types of energy storage.

Q13 There are four types of renewable energy applicable in Malaysia climate such as PV solar,
micro-hydro, biomass and wind. Discuss and relate those technologies with location of siting,
problems encountered and current status of each system in Malaysia.