Background:

Generally, total energy consumption in Malaysia continues to grow from year to year.
Energy consumption per capita has grown from 1,100 kWh in 2010 to 4,460 kWh in 2014 as
country continues developing towards middle income status by 2020 [2]. Based on the data
obtained from Department of Statistic Malaysia, the population in Malaysia is estimated as
30.23 million people. [3] Hence, the energy consumption in Malaysia could be described as
huge amount if it is calculated as the product of energy consumption percapita and
population.

In Malaysia, there are a lot of energy resources available. Examples of those resources
are oil, natural gas, coal, and renewable energy such as biomass, solar and hydropower [1].
Production of electrical energy in Malaysia mainly depends on the fossil fuel type of sources.
Based on findings of Shafie et al., in 2009, from total electrical energy generation of 106.530
billion kWh, electricity generated by using fossil fuel such as coal, oil and natural gas
comprises of 94.5 percent. The rest are mainly generated by using hydroelectric. [1]

Generation of Electricity in 2009

Natural Gas Coal Oil Hydroelectric Others
0.10%
1.10% 5.40%

30.40%

63.00%

Total :
106,530 GWh

Figure 1 Composition of Generation of Electricity in Malaysia in 2009 [1]

The situation above shows adverse effects to the energy sources in Malaysia. This is
because the fossil fuel is a non-renewable energy resource and will be used up in the future.
Renewable energy resources should be considered to totally replace the non-renewable
energy as soon as possible so that we will not face any problem in term of generation of
energy when non-renewable energy is totally used up.

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Details of proposed system:

In order to solve the problem of extinction of non-renewable energy such as fossil

fuel, we need to promote the usage of renewable energy.

Based on my opinion, I strongly recommend that the use of biomass to generate

energy in Malaysia. In Malaysia, there are many types of biomass available which could be
utilised for generation of renewable energy. Examples of common biomass in Malaysia
include agriculture waste such as timber waste, oil palm waste, rice husk, manure and the list
goes on. These biomass sources could be found abundant in Malaysia.

Nevertheless, my focus on this biomass energy generation is on food waste. Food

waste should be used to generate energy to reduce its impacts on environment. In fact,
Malaysians waste about 15,000 metric tonnes of food daily. [5-6] It is also estimated that total
volume of food waste in Peninsular Malaysia by 2020 would occupied Petronas Twin Tower
for 16 times. [5] According to the statistic released by Environment Protection Agency (EPA),
in 2010, there is only less than 3 percent of food waste is reused or recycled, the rest is
disposed in the landfill to produce methane gas. [5] Methane gas is one of the greenhouse gas
(GHG) which is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a GHG. Moreover, most
landfills in Malaysia are in poor condition as it operated without proper protective measures,
such as lining system, leachate treatment and gas venting. [7]

Meanwhile, in San Jose, California, USA, Zero Waste Energy Development used
anaerobic digestion facility turn food scraps into renewable energy and compost for local
farms. [8] In this facility, biological bacteria are used to break down or digest the food waste
in oxygen-free environment provided by anaerobic digester. [8] Thus, food waste is converted
into methane biogas as a fuel to generate electricity. [8]

This facility can digest 90,000 tonnes of food waste and produce 1.6 megawatts per
year. [8] If this kind of facility could be widely used in Malaysia, two of the main problems
which are land-filling of food waste and replacement of non-renewable energy perhaps could
be solved.

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 Other than that, by using food waste treatment via anaerobic digestion to generate
energy, its advantages will be more than disadvantage as compared to other renewable energy
such as wind energy and solar energy. Based on the study from Kumar G. et al., they found
that generally, food waste treatment has a higher conversion efficiency and capacity factor
than wind energy and solar energy. [9] However, food waste treatment needs lower
investment cost and operation cost as compared to wind energy and solar energy. [9]

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, I strongly recommend that use of biomass as main renewable energy for
Malaysia in the future. Biomass energy can last for an extremely long time, environmental-
friendly, low cost needed and help in reducing problems of food waste in Malaysia.

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Reference:

1. Shafie, S., Mahlia, T., Masjuki, H. and Andriyana, A. (2011). Current energy usage and
sustainable energy in Malaysia: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,
15(9), pp.4370-4377.

2. Electric, Power and Renewable Energy Malaysia. (2015). Energy Market in Malaysia,
opportunities abound. [online] Available at:
http://www.epremalaysia.com/home/index.php [Accessed 3 Oct. 2017].

3. Department of Statistics Malaysia Official Portal. (2016). Current Population Estimates,

Malaysia, 2014-2016. [online] Available at:
https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=155&bul_id=OW
lxdEVoYlJCS0hUZzJyRUcvZEYxZz09&menu_id=L0pheU43NWJwRWVSZklWdzQ4
TlhUUT09 [Accessed 3 Oct. 2017].

4. Malaysia Biomass Industry Confederation. (2017). About Biomass. [online] Available at:
http://www.biomass.org.my/page/162/About-Biomass/ [Accessed 3 Oct. 2017]

5. The Star. (2016). Impacts of Food Wastage. [online] Available at:

http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2016/05/26/impact-of-food-wastage/
[Accessed 3 Oct. 2017].

6. The Star. (2016). Malaysians waste 15,000 tonnes of food daily [online] Available at:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/05/24/malaysians-waste-15000-tonnes-of-
food-daily/ [Accessed 3 Oct. 2017].

7. Ismail, S. (2013). The challenge of future landfill: A case study of Malaysia. Journal of
Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences, 5(6), pp.86-96.

8. United State Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Converting Food Waste to

Renewable Energy. [online] Available at: https://www.epa.gov/pacific-southwest-media-
center/converting-food-waste-renewable-energy [Accessed 3 Oct. 2017].

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9. Kumar, G., Thi, N. and Lin, C. (2016). Electricity generation comparison of food waste-
based bioenergy with wind and solar powers: A mini review. Sustainable Environment
Research, 26(5), pp.197-202.