The study says a 60-megawatt solar plant has enough capacity to supply electricity to the district, assuming 49 gigawatt hours in yearly demand and annual generation of 78 gigawatt hours, and even to transfer surplus electricity to the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei will develop a 30 MW solar power plant in Kampung Sungai Akar, paving the way to cut carbon emissions and shift towards renewable energy.
The new solar farm will contribute to Brunei’s target of generating 100 MW of solar energy by 2025, energy minister YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mat Suny Hj Md Hussein told Legislative Council (LegCo) members during a meeting on February 3.
Construction of the solar power plant is slated to start in 2022, with $50,000 earmarked to conduct a land survey in Kg Sg Akar. Both the Bukit Panggal and Belingus solar farms will produce 15 MW of solar energy. Apart from the three new solar power plants, Brunei will expand its solar energy project in Seria from 1.2 MW to 4.2 MW.
Brunei has set a target of generating 100 MW of solar energy by 2025 as part of the government’s initiative to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent over the next 10 years. With the vast majority of the country’s electricity generated by gas-powered plants, Brunei has one of the highest annual carbon footprint per person in the region.
The new solar farms may be developed through public-private partnerships as the ministry seeks to reduce the government’s financial burden. Brunei has set a target of generating 100 MW of solar energy by 2025 as part of the government’s initiative to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent over the next 10 years.