IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v40y2012i1p113-129.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy security and hydropower development in Malaysia: The drivers and challenges facing the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)

Author

Listed:
  • Sovacool, Benjamin K.
  • Bulan, L.C.

Abstract

This article investigates the drivers and challenges associated with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy in Malaysia, or SCORE, on the island of Borneo. SCORE constitutes a multi-hundred billion dollar infrastructure development plan in Sarawak, one aiming to achieve US$105 billion of investment and to build 20,000 MW of hydroelectric dams along a 320 km corridor crisscrossing 70,000 square kilometers. Based largely on primary data collected through site visits, original field research in Sarawak, and more than eighty research interviews, the article identifies the genesis of SCORE, its expected benefits, and challenges with implementation encountered to date. The article begins by describing its research methods and then summarizes four sets of anticipated benefits discussed by respondents associated with SCORE: industrialization, energy security, equitable development, and spillover effects. It then dives into a longer discussion of the technical, economic, political, legal and regulatory, social, and environmental challenges facing the project. The article concludes by offering implications for those wishing to promote other large-scale, energy infrastructure projects throughout the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Bulan, L.C., 2012. "Energy security and hydropower development in Malaysia: The drivers and challenges facing the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 113-129.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:40:y:2012:i:1:p:113-129
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.09.032
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148111005507
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2011.09.032?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lidula, N.W.A. & Mithulananthan, N. & Ongsakul, W. & Widjaya, C. & Henson, R., 2007. "ASEAN towards clean and sustainable energy: Potentials, utilization and barriers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(9), pages 1441-1452.
    2. van de Vate, Joop F., 1997. "Comparison of energy sources in terms of their full energy chain emission factors of greenhouse gases," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 1-6, January.
    3. David J. Hess, 2009. "Localist Movements in a Global Economy: Sustainability, Justice, and Urban Development in the United States," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262012642, April.
    4. Rahman Mohamed, Abdul & Lee, Keat Teong, 2006. "Energy for sustainable development in Malaysia: Energy policy and alternative energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(15), pages 2388-2397, October.
    5. David J. Hess, 2009. "Localist Movements in a Global Economy: Sustainability, Justice, and Urban Development in the United States," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262512327, April.
    6. Koh, Siong Lee & Lim, Yun Seng, 2010. "Meeting energy demand in a developing economy without damaging the environment--A case study in Sabah, Malaysia, from technical, environmental and economic perspectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4719-4728, August.
    7. Raadal, Hanne Lerche & Gagnon, Luc & Modahl, Ingunn Saur & Hanssen, Ole Jørgen, 2011. "Life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the generation of wind and hydro power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(7), pages 3417-3422, September.
    8. Oh, Tick Hui & Pang, Shen Yee & Chua, Shing Chyi, 2010. "Energy policy and alternative energy in Malaysia: Issues and challenges for sustainable growth," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 1241-1252, May.
    9. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Bulan, L.C., 2011. "Behind an ambitious megaproject in Asia: The history and implications of the Bakun hydroelectric dam in Borneo," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 4842-4859, September.
    10. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Drupady, Ira Martina, 2011. "Examining the Small Renewable Energy Power (SREP) Program in Malaysia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7244-7256.
    11. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2009. "Energy policy and cooperation in Southeast Asia: The history, challenges, and implications of the trans-ASEAN gas pipeline (TAGP) network," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 2356-2367, June.
    12. Samantha Ölz & Milou Beerepoot, 2010. "Deploying Renewables in Southeast Asia: Trends and potentials," IEA Energy Papers 2010/6, OECD Publishing.
    13. Gagnon, Luc & van de Vate, Joop F., 1997. "Greenhouse gas emissions from hydropower : The state of research in 1996," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 7-13, January.
    14. Zamzam Jaafar, Mohd. & Kheng, Wong Hwee & Kamaruddin, Norhayati, 2003. "Greener energy solutions for a sustainable future: issues and challenges for Malaysia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(11), pages 1061-1072, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed, Tofael & Mekhilef, Saad & Shah, Rakibuzzaman & Mithulananthan, N. & Seyedmahmoudian, Mehdi & Horan, Ben, 2017. "ASEAN power grid: A secure transmission infrastructure for clean and sustainable energy for South-East Asia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1420-1435.
    2. Islam, Md. Monirul & Irfan, Muhammad & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2022. "Renewable and non-renewable energy consumption in Bangladesh: The relative influencing profiles of economic factors, urbanization, physical infrastructure and institutional quality," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1130-1149.
    3. Alam, Syed Shah & Nik Hashim, Nik Hazrul & Rashid, Mamunur & Omar, Nor Asiah & Ahsan, Nilufar & Ismail, Md Daud, 2014. "Small-scale households renewable energy usage intention: Theoretical development and empirical settings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 255-263.
    4. Chinhao Chong & Weidou Ni & Linwei Ma & Pei Liu & Zheng Li, 2015. "The Use of Energy in Malaysia: Tracing Energy Flows from Primary Source to End Use," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-39, April.
    5. Horn, Christine & Gifford, Sandra M. & Ting, Christina Y.P., 2021. "Informal, essential and embedded: Transport strategies in remote Sarawak," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    6. Wagner, Beatrice & Hauer, Christoph & Schoder, Angelika & Habersack, Helmut, 2015. "A review of hydropower in Austria: Past, present and future development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 304-314.
    7. Shirley, Rebekah G. & Word, Jettie, 2018. "Rights, rivers and renewables: Lessons from hydropower conflict in Borneo on the role of cultural politics in energy planning for Small Island Developing States," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 189-199.
    8. Lam, Wei-Haur & Bhatia, Aalisha, 2013. "Folding tidal turbine as an innovative concept toward the new era of turbines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 463-473.
    9. You, Siming & Tong, Huanhuan & Armin-Hoiland, Joel & Tong, Yen Wah & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2017. "Techno-economic and greenhouse gas savings assessment of decentralized biomass gasification for electrifying the rural areas of Indonesia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 495-510.
    10. Nasrin Aghamohammadi & Stacy Simai Reginald & Ahmad Shamiri & Ali Akbar Zinatizadeh & Li Ping Wong & Nik Meriam Binti Nik Sulaiman, 2016. "An Investigation of Sustainable Power Generation from Oil Palm Biomass: A Case Study in Sarawak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-19, April.
    11. Ghimire, Laxman Prasad & Kim, Yeonbae, 2018. "An analysis on barriers to renewable energy development in the context of Nepal using AHP," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PA), pages 446-456.
    12. Borhanazad, H. & Mekhilef, S. & Saidur, R. & Boroumandjazi, G., 2013. "Potential application of renewable energy for rural electrification in Malaysia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 210-219.
    13. K. Y. Lau & C. W. Tan, 2021. "Performance analysis of photovoltaic, hydrokinetic, and hybrid diesel systems for rural electrification in Malaysian Borneo," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 6279-6300, April.
    14. Oh, Tick Hui & Hasanuzzaman, Md & Selvaraj, Jeyraj & Teo, Siew Chein & Chua, Shing Chyi, 2018. "Energy policy and alternative energy in Malaysia: Issues and challenges for sustainable growth – An update," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 3021-3031.
    15. Zakaria, Zulfirdaus & Kamarudin, Siti Kartom & Abd Wahid, Khairul Anuar & Abu Hassan, Saiful Hasmady, 2021. "The progress of fuel cell for malaysian residential consumption: Energy status and prospects to introduction as a renewable power generation system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Basri, Nor Afifah & Ramli, Ahmad Termizi & Aliyu, Abubakar Sadiq, 2015. "Malaysia energy strategy towards sustainability: A panoramic overview of the benefits and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1094-1105.
    2. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Drupady, Ira Martina, 2011. "Examining the Small Renewable Energy Power (SREP) Program in Malaysia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7244-7256.
    3. Kardooni, Roozbeh & Yusoff, Sumiani Binti & Kari, Fatimah Binti & Moeenizadeh, Leila, 2018. "Public opinion on renewable energy technologies and climate change in Peninsular Malaysia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(PA), pages 659-668.
    4. Hannan, M.A. & Begum, R.A. & Abdolrasol, M.G. & Hossain Lipu, M.S. & Mohamed, A. & Rashid, M.M., 2018. "Review of baseline studies on energy policies and indicators in Malaysia for future sustainable energy development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 551-564.
    5. Islam, M.R. & Saidur, R. & Rahim, N.A., 2011. "Assessment of wind energy potentiality at Kudat and Labuan, Malaysia using Weibull distribution function," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 985-992.
    6. Petinrin, J.O. & Shaaban, Mohamed, 2015. "Renewable energy for continuous energy sustainability in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 967-981.
    7. Shafie, S.M. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Ahmad-Yazid, A., 2012. "A review on electricity generation based on biomass residue in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5879-5889.
    8. Habib Hussain Khan & Nahla Samargandi & Adeel Ahmed, 2021. "Economic development, energy consumption, and climate change: An empirical account from Malaysia," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 45(4), pages 397-423, November.
    9. Ahmad, Salman & Tahar, Razman Mat, 2014. "Selection of renewable energy sources for sustainable development of electricity generation system using analytic hierarchy process: A case of Malaysia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 458-466.
    10. Foo, K.Y., 2015. "A vision on the opportunities, policies and coping strategies for the energy security and green energy development in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1477-1498.
    11. Shahmohammadi, M. Sadegh & Mohd. Yusuff, Rosnah & Keyhanian, Sina & Shakouri G., Hamed, 2015. "A decision support system for evaluating effects of Feed-in Tariff mechanism: Dynamic modeling of Malaysia’s electricity generation mix," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 217-229.
    12. Ho, Lip-Wah, 2016. "Wind energy in Malaysia: Past, present and future," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 279-295.
    13. Turconi, Roberto & Boldrin, Alessio & Astrup, Thomas, 2013. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) of electricity generation technologies: Overview, comparability and limitations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 555-565.
    14. Yah, Nor F. & Oumer, Ahmed N. & Idris, Mat S., 2017. "Small scale hydro-power as a source of renewable energy in Malaysia: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 228-239.
    15. Abd Kadir, Sharifah Aishah Syed & Yin, Chun-Yang & Rosli Sulaiman, Muhamad & Chen, Xi & El-Harbawi, Mohanad, 2013. "Incineration of municipal solid waste in Malaysia: Salient issues, policies and waste-to-energy initiatives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 181-186.
    16. Khor, Cheng Seong & Lalchand, G., 2014. "A review on sustainable power generation in Malaysia to 2030: Historical perspective, current assessment, and future strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 952-960.
    17. Kardooni, Roozbeh & Yusoff, Sumiani Binti & Kari, Fatimah Binti, 2016. "Renewable energy technology acceptance in Peninsular Malaysia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-10.
    18. Koerner, Sonja Angelika & Siew, Wei Sian & Salema, Arshad Adam & Balan, Poovarasi & Mekhilef, Saad & Thavamoney, Nisha, 2022. "Energy policies shaping the solar photovoltaics business models in Malaysia with some insights on Covid-19 pandemic effect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    19. Shafie, S.M. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Andriyana, A., 2011. "Current energy usage and sustainable energy in Malaysia: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4370-4377.
    20. Abolhosseini, Shahrouz & Heshmati, Almas & Altmann, Jörn, 2014. "A Review of Renewable Energy Supply and Energy Efficiency Technologies," IZA Discussion Papers 8145, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:40:y:2012:i:1:p:113-129. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.