Kota Kinabalu: The Green Energy Association of Sabah (GENS) urged the State Government to continue approving new renewable energy projects to further strengthen grid stability and support a sustainable energy future for Sabah.
Its President, Dr Edward Chua, said the power supply has shown significant improvement following proactive measures taken by the government.
These include the development of the 400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Lahad Datu, the importation of 50MW of power from Sarawak, the 199MW large scale solar (LSS) project, three 100MW gas-fired peaking plants in Kimanis, and three 100MW wind power pilot projects in Kota Marudu, he said.
The projects were implemented through concerted efforts involving the Sabah Government, particularly the Sabah Energy Council, the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), he added.
“GENS is confident that the current challenges in power supply will see significant improvement with the implementation of these projects,” said Chua, who led the GENS executive committee in paying a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister I and Works and Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam in Sembulan.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss the association’s role in advancing Sabah’s renewable energy landscape.
The discussion served as a platform for a productive exchange of ideas on ensuring Sabah’s future energy security.
“We also discussed the alignment of industry initiatives with the strategic framework of the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2024 (SERAMP 2024),” Chua said.
GENS also expressed support for the “Sabah First Policy” in all power development projects under the SERAMP 2024 framework.
The association believes prioritising local Sabahan companies will not only create jobs but also foster a robust local ecosystem and supply chain, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the state’s energy security, he said.
GENS, a professional body representing engineers, developers and service providers across the renewable energy spectrum including solar PV, mini hydro, bioenergy, wind power, battery energy storage systems and geothermal power provided Dr Joachim with a comprehensive overview of its objectives and activities since its establishment in 2024.
Chua also invited Dr Joachim to attend GENS’ Exco installation ceremony in April 2026.
