Sarawak’s Transition to a Green Economy: A Low-Carbon Perspective
By Associate Professor Ts. Bridgid Chin Lai Fui
Low carbon economy
With the acceleration of climate change, carbon emissions have emerged as a substantial hindrance to global sustainable development. Rising temperatures caused by these emissions disrupt weather patterns and destabilize ecological equilibrium, endangering all forms of life on Earth. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has declared 2024 the warmest year on record, marked by exceptionally high land and sea surface temperatures and excessive oceanic heat.
The long-term goals of the Paris Agreement remain unchanged but face escalating threats. As the global economy transitions to a low-carbon model and intensifies its pursuit of sustainable development, identifying alternative sources of vital minerals and renewable resources for carbon-neutral technologies has become imperative. Low-carbon consumption behaviour plays a crucial role in this transition, directly influencing energy use and mitigating carbon dioxide emissions.
Countries worldwide are striving to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, but balancing economic growth with sustainability remains a major challenge. A key issue is the need for updated regulations that promote cleaner, more affordable energy sources. The continued reliance on fossil fuels sparks debates about sustainability, with many experts emphasising the necessity of adopting green technologies to reduce emissions while ensuring energy stability. Without sustainable solutions, environmental degradation will persist, affecting people, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Recognising this urgency, Sarawak has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable development. The Sarawak Blueprint envisions the state achieving developed status by 2030, leveraging data and innovation to drive economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. Launched in 2021, the Sarawak Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) prioritises key sectors, particularly renewable energy, which plays a pivotal role in the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
As part of this commitment, Sarawak is advancing the hydrogen economy, developing a 50 MW floating solar project, implementing mini hydro initiatives, and promoting electric vehicles to accelerate green transformation. These efforts have already yielded significant results, with the state successfully reducing its carbon emissions by 73 per cent between 2010 and 2022. This milestone underscores the impact of Sarawak’s renewable energy strategies.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, speaking at Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2024, announced that Sarawak had surpassed its 2030 target of 60 per cent renewable energy ahead of schedule, with hydropower now contributing 70 per cent of total electricity generation. This achievement cements Sarawak’s leadership in sustainable energy and its progress toward becoming a high-income, low-carbon economy under PCDS 2030.
In addition to these initiatives, Sarawak is exploring biomass as a potential energy source. Biomass derived from agroforestry residues, animal waste, and municipal solid waste can be converted into biofuels and other value-added products. As a carbon-neutral resource, biomass provides a low-carbon solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while offering economic benefits by mitigating oil price fluctuations and enhancing energy security.
Biomass can be converted into biofuels through two main pathways: biochemical and thermochemical processes. The biochemical process, which uses microorganisms and enzymes to produce liquid biofuels, is influenced by temperature, humidity, and environmental conditions. However, its high costs and lower efficiency pose challenges for large-scale adoption. The thermochemical process, on the other hand, relies on heat and controlled oxygen environments to produce biochar, bio-oil, and synthetic gas (syngas). This method is considered more efficient and practical for biomass conversion into valuable energy sources.
Innovative thermochemical technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, are being explored to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impacts in the transportation sector. However, direct pyrolysis of biomass produces thermally and chemically unstable liquid products, presenting challenges. Biomass gasification offers a promising alternative by generating hydrogen-enriched syngas, which can be used as a vehicle fuel or converted into hydrocarbons and methanol. While coal gasification is a well-established process, applying this technique to biomass presents obstacles such as tar condensation at low temperatures, leading to equipment corrosion, blockages, and reduced energy efficiency. A comprehensive understanding of pyrolysis and gasification interactions is crucial for optimising the process and achieving high-quality gas production.
Sarawak’s Hydrogen Economy Roadmap focuses on renewable hydrogen production to support clean energy transition initiatives. Integrating biomass-derived hydrogen into this strategy can leverage the state’s abundant biomass resources from agriculture, forestry, and municipal waste. Co-locating biomass gasification plants near hydropower-based hydrogen facilities can enhance infrastructure efficiency and optimise energy utilisation. Establishing decentralised hydrogen hubs in rural areas can empower local communities and support off-grid applications. Collaborative research with universities and industries can improve conversion efficiency and explore hybrid hydrogen production methods, such as co-gasification with biowaste and solar-powered electrolysis. Government incentives, carbon credit mechanisms, and industry partnerships can further accelerate large-scale adoption, drive investment, and foster development.
Biohydrogen production from biomass, when combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS), contributes to negative carbon emissions, making it a key solution for sustainable energy and climate mitigation. CCS plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing hydrogen purity through CO₂ separation, and making it suitable for fuel cells and industrial applications.
The concept of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) integrates CCS with biohydrogen plants to achieve net-negative emissions aligned with Sarawak’s decarbonisation goals. Captured CO₂ can be repurposed for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), methanol production, or mineralisation into solid carbonates, adding economic value to the process. By integrating biomass-derived hydrogen with CCS, Sarawak can strengthen its leadership in green hydrogen, ensuring sustainable energy production and long-term climate resilience.
Sarawak has made substantial progress in positioning itself as a pioneer in renewable hydrogen, capitalising on its hydropower and biomass resources. However, challenges remain, including high production costs, insufficient large-scale infrastructure, and technological barriers. Addressing these obstacles through direct policy support, industry collaboration, and investment incentives is essential to facilitating the widespread adoption of green hydrogen. By overcoming these challenges, Sarawak can enhance market penetration, solidify its role in the global hydrogen economy, and significantly contribute to a carbon-neutral future.
Associate Professor Ts. Bridgid Chin Lai Fui is the Student and Alumni Committee Chair and an associate professor in the Chemical and Energy Engineering Department of Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science. She is actively involved in teaching, research, and supervising research students while providing academic leadership and administrative support. Her research focuses on converting lignocellulosic waste and plastic waste into value-added bioproducts and biohydrogen using green technology. She has received multiple international and national research grants and has authored numerous academic journal articles and conference papers. She is currently researching the conversion of water hyacinth to syngas-enriched hydrogen production via catalytic gasification under the Curtin Malaysia Sustainability Research Grant 2021 and the sustainable utilisation of Sarawak bamboo biowaste-derived activated carbon for high-performance supercapacitors and soil remediation under the Sarawak Research Development Council Catalyst Grant 2023. She is a Chartered Engineer (CPEng) with Engineers Australia (EA), a professional technologist under the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), and a Fellow of Advance Higher Education (Advance HE), UK. She welcomes opportunities for partnerships and collaboration and can be contacted at bridgidchin@curtin.edu.my.
