@ green | MAY-JUNE , 2023

Group photo at Sarawak ’ s first industrial microalgae production facility .

Project led by Japan ’ s CHITOSE Group , Sarawak Energy and Sarawak Biodiversity Council

The Premier of Sarawak , Datuk Patinggi ( Dr ) Zohari Openg , congratulated the official launching of the facility . Others present were Sarawak State Secretary and Chairman for Sarawak Biodiversity Council ( SBC ) Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki ; Sarawak Energy Chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi ; Deputy Chief of Mission from The Embassy of Japan Karimata Atsushi ; CHITOSE Group Founder & Chief Executive Officer Dr Tomohiro Fujita ; Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer Datu Sharbini Suhaili and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre Chief Executive Officer Dr Yeo Tiong Chia .

The microalgae project , which began in 2020 , is led by Japan ’ s CHITOSE Group ( the primary contractor for the microalgae research project ), Sarawak Energy , and SBC . The project is fully funded by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation ( NEDO ) and managed by Japan ’ s Ministry of Economy , Trade , and Industry ( METI ).

CHITOSE Group is responsible for cultivating and producing microalgae biomass and product research and development . Sarawak Energy provides the necessary exhausted gas containing carbon dioxide to cultivate microalgae from its coal-fired power plant through a flue gas delivery system .

Meanwhile , SBC offers qualified researchers and a skilled workforce to assist with successfully cultivating and producing high-quality microalgae biomass .

Abang Zohari pointed out that Sarawak prioritises environmental sustainability , aligning Sarawak ’ s development path with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs , where balanced economic growth is pursued to manage our natural resources in a measured , responsible way .

“ Sarawak has our ambition to become a high-income State by 2030 under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy ( PCDS ), which is also in line with the UNSDGs . PCDS 2030 aims to reverse the farreaching negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and transform Sarawak into a competitive and sustainable economy powered by renewable energy such as hydropower , floating solar and hydrogen .”

He also highlighted that Sarawak is progressing with its Green Energy Agenda , moving towards decarbonisation and allowing Sarawak to build a more sustainable energy future by facilitating the reduction of emissions at both the local and global levels .

“ C4 Sarawak and the research it will conduct potentially lays the foundation for developing a new economy within the State – creating significant economic value for Sarawak ’ s people while ensuring sustainability remains a priority .”

He pointed out that by utilising CO2 , a by-product of energy production from the plant , for microalgae production , the facility is successfully reducing emissions while contributing to the State ’ s decarbonisation targets and Green Energy Agenda .

Additionally , C4 Sarawak can drive Carbon Capture , Usage , and Storage

( CCUS ) exploration , which is crucial to fulfilling PCDS 2030 , making it an essential step forward in the journey towards a sustainable future .

“ Everyone can contribute to energy resilience and sustainability by working together and bringing their own strengths to the table as policymakers , corporate leaders or renewable energy players .

“ Ultimately , this facility is the latest example of Sarawak ’ s focus on exploring and engaging with innovative new technologies to embed sustainability within the State ,” he said .

Abdul Hamed emphasised that even as Sarawak Energy continues to grow its renewable energy in its generation mix , thermal generation from indigenous coal and gas is still necessary to maintain the security of supply .

As such , Sarawak Energy continues to find ways to minimise the emission produced from coal-powered generation .

He said : “ Our role in this project is to explore carbon capture and the potential production of biofuels through the integration of microalgae technology , which is provided by CHITOSE and SBC , in a coal-fired power plant . In line with this , we have established a flue gas delivery system from our Sejingkat Coal-fired Power Plant to the industrial scale microalgae production facility .”

He highlighted that microalgae cultivation provides a green method of capturing CO2 . Rather than introducing hazardous chemicals , which may compromise the safety of the research project team and the environment , microalgae can be leveraged to achieve the same outcome naturally .

“ Based on an earlier study , the facility is expected to capture 450 tonnes of CO2 and produce 300 tonnes of dried biomass annually . In addition , the downstream applications of capturing CO2 through microalgae will create another wave of economic value , resulting in potential products like sustainable aviation fuels , animal feeds and pharmaceutical products , compared to pure carbon storage .”

“ In addition , C4 Sarawak will also be used to conduct research into industrialscale microalgae production . This is essential information for the future development and expansion of microalgae production in tropical climates like Sarawak ’ s ”, he added . – @ Green