Households to sell excess solar power

[mybina]

Part of the new Renewable Energy Act that is expected to be tabled in Parliament by next June 2010, is to allow households to sell excess solar power to the national grid to spur usage of renewable energy. A feed-in tariff mechanism modelled after Germany's system will be introduced under the new law, which allows electricity produced from renewable energy resources to be sold to power companies at a fixed premium and for specific duration.

Energy source: solar panels installed on rooftops.
Problems now: High cost. A rooftop photovoltaic system that powers an average four-room detached house could cost more than RM150,000. But with expected improvement in technology and more consumers using it, the price will come down in the future. A solar panel can last for 20 years.

Other energy sources:
- wind
- biomass (only suitable for certain industry users like plantation companies).

Read more from Business Times 24/11/2009 - 'Plan to let households sell excess solar power'