GENSET HYBRID SYSTEM IN RURAL SCHOOLS

By : BERNAMA

GREEN Electric Sdn Bhd (GESB) is waiting for the green light from the Ministry of Education (MOE) to install the GenSet Hybrid System in 440 rural schools in Sarawak currently running on diesel generators for electricity.

The system, jointly developed by GESB, Public Works Department (JKR), University Malaysia Sarawak and ETI Tech (M) Sdn Bhd offers consistent power supply with its lithium-battery's high energy density, fast charging and discharging characteristics.

"With the GenSet Hybrid System, the remote schools could cut down the running time of the diesel gensets, hence reducing diesel consumption," said GESB Director Kirby Lee at a media conference at Bangsar yesterday.

"Based on the test data collected, JKR prepared the final test report in early March this year which concluded the pilot project run in Kapit school in Sarawak. Up to 60 per cent reduction in operational cost can be achieved, while extending availability of electricity supply from 14.5 hours to 24 hours," he said.

With the system, a school could save more than RM350,000 per year, which could bring up to RM150 million save per year for the total 440 targeted schools, he added.

"The report from the pilot project has been sent to the MOE to be considered on whether they want to consider to use this technology," Lee said.

GESB also has plans to bring this technology to Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia by 2014 as these countries also face the same problem in the rural areas, he said.

Meanwhile, under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA), the government plans to provide 24 hours electricity to more than 140,000 households by 2012.