Energy Security within Malaysia’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus—A Systems Approach

While knowledge of energy security has been thorough and elaborate, understanding energy security within the context of the water-energy-food nexus, where substantial inter-sectoral causes and effects exist, is less established, more so for Malaysia. This paper investigates the impact of two energy scenarios on identified key indicators within the context of the water-energy-food nexus. By utilizing a mixed method of qualitative interview and quantitative system dynamics modelling, representative causal loop diagrams and stock-flow diagrams were constructed to predict and allow for the analysis of behaviors of selected key indicators. Key findings include the importance of allowing a reasonable penetration of 20% renewable energy for the long term, and having a proper consideration for nuclear energy to assist in keeping energy costs low for the mid-term

Green Energy and Environment

Energy is a vital element in sustaining our modern society but the future of energy is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous; especially when facing a continuous drive to ensure a sustained and equitable access as well as mounting pressures to reduce its emissions. Traditional approaches in developing energy technologies have always been in isolation with distinct and unique contexts. However, we cannot afford to work in silos any longer. Future energy systems and their relationship with the society and the environment will have to be conceived, designed, developed, commissioned, and operated alongside and within contemporary geo-political, ethical, and socio-economic contexts. This has posed an unprecedented volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), where systemic and holistic approaches are often warranted. This book aims to focus on the VUCA of addressing the future of energy and environment by considering contemporary issues and insights from diverse contexts, viewed as a system, and anchored upon emerging and smart energy technologies

A complex systems analysis of the water-energy nexus in malaysia

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Water security plays a crucial role in maintaining livelihoods, especially emerging economies. In Malaysia, understanding the inter-relationships of water within the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is at its infancy. This paper investigates the interactions of the water sector with energy sector in Malaysia, through the lenses of WEF nexus, using system dynamics. The first part of the research involves qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in the water sectors, which provides validation for the initial causal loop relationships built and qualitative inputs of the water-energy nexus through the lenses of the water sector. The second part of the research is a quantitative simulation of stock and flow based on four carefully designed scenarios revolving around Malaysian water security. Key findings include an apparent disconnect between the states and federal governments in managing water supply, poor economic sustainability of the water supply and services industry, and significant energy use in the water sector. On the other hand, environmental impacts stemming from the water sector is minimal. Streamlining water governance and revising water tariffs have thus been suggested as policy recommendations, where their implementation could propagate into downstream benefits for the energy sector

Deregulating the electricity market for the peninsula Malaysian grid using a system dynamics approach

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019. Competition among power producers is minimal in the current Peninsula Malaysia’s electricity market structure as it only happens during the proposal stage to build new power plants. Therefore, electricity generation is over-dependent on current national gas reserves and the importation of cheap coal from Indonesia to keep tariffs low as there is minimal competition among power producers. However, this is not a suitable long term and environmental-friendly solution as it increases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) emission. Hence, this research utilises system dynamics method to study the effects of a single buyer model (SBM) transitioning into a wholesale competition market, and to propose a framework to deregulate Peninsula Malaysia’s electricity market. Results have shown that tariffs for end consumers are lower in the wholesale competitive market than the current SBM market even after incorporating expensive large-scale renewable energy

Least Cost Option for Optimum Energy Penetration in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the few developing countries rich in natural resources and it aims to achieve a high renewable energy penetration by the end of 2030. Malaysia’s energy sectors are rapidly evolving due to increasing energy demand in the country. Therefore, the use and development of renewable energy should be emphasized, not only to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel resources, but also to reduce the impact of fossil fuels on climate change. This study aims to comprehensively review renewable energy resources and non-renewable energy resources that can be utilised at least possible costs. Malaysia currently relies heavily on fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and crude oil for its energy production. This paper explores the energy sector in Malaysia in broad terms, and particularly examines the diversification of its energy production to achieve a least cost configuration. The roles of renewable energy and nuclear energies as alternatives to close the gap of depleting fossil fuels and growing energy demands to improve energy supply security in fuel diversification are also explored using system dynamics to provide a clear understanding of the least cost option for an optimum energy penetration for Malaysia

Thermal Performance of a Double Layer Microchannel Heat Sink with Staggered Triangular Ribs in the Transverse Microchambers

Numerical investigation is conducted to study the thermal performance of a double layer microchannel heat sink (DLMCHS) with the feature of interrupted flow in the bottom layer. The bottom layer has two transverse microchambers in which staggered triangular ribs are added to provide flow disruption. The width of the triangular ribs was varied to understand the effects of fluid flow and heat transfer. The thermal performance of the DLMCHS is evaluated relative to the plain non-interrupted DLMCHS using a dimensionless ratios of average Nusselt number. It is found that the heat transfer rate can be increased with the larger width of front triangular ribs as well as larger width of back triangular ribs, potentially yielding up to 41% enhancement relative to the plain non-interrupted MCHS. The results show that the staggered arrangement of triangular ribs in microchamber can be designed to play a role to divert and converge the flow to achieve better mixing in addition to the advantage of higher heat transfer surface area