28 April 2012
SYNERGY : Varsity teams up with Thai university to explore
new green fuel.
Petai belalang @ petai Jawa.
BANGKOK: IN what is believed to be the first of its kind
ever, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and a Thai university will "steam
up" energy from a tree species.
UiTM rector (Pahang campus) Associate Prof Datuk Dr Hilmi Ab
Rahman said UiTM would collaborate with Kasetsart University of Thailand to
explore the new renewable energy source from "energy plantations".
He said wood from the Luceana tree could be burnt to produce
steam, which could be turned into new energy to serve as an alternative to
prominent energy sources such as oil, gas, coal and hydro.
"It is a green technology and renewable energy as the
Luceana tree can be harvested in just 18 months compared with thousands of
years for fossil fuel to develop."
He said, so far, no other country had produced energy based
on Luceana wood.
The Luceana species is known as petai belalang in Malaysia,
and ipil-ipil, in Sabah.
Dr Hilmi said the new renewable energy could offer a cheaper
solution to the depleting fossil fuel and higher crude oil price, which hit
about US$120 (RM365) per barrel.
"Investors are keen to look at the source of energy as
they move towards green technology."
He said Kasetsart University had the expertise and
technology in energy plantation as they had been carrying out research for 40
years.
UiTM has also engaged in the research of energy plantation,
and together with Kasetsart University, the varsity aims to enhance its
research, especially in the genetic engineering of Luceana tree, in ensuring
the sustainable supply of the tree.
Dr Hilmi said UiTM had planted the Luceana species on a
5,000ha plantation in Merchang, Dungun, as its pilot project.
He said the new renewable energy had vast potential, not
only for Malaysia and Thailand but also for the Asean region and worldwide.
"We need to educate the industry players that tree
plantation is not merely for producing wood for furniture."
In Thailand, the tree is used to prevent soil erosion and
its leaves are used as animal feed.
"Energy plantation may seem like a crazy idea, but it
is doable," said Dr Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Abdul Rahman, a scientist of UiTM
Pahang.
He added that the new renewable energy had been proven to
produce one megawatt of electricity and generate a diesel engine in Sabah.
"We used two combustions, with 80 per cent consisting
of the renewable energy and 20 per cent of diesel in generating the
engine."
Dr Nazri said more research was needed if 100 per cent of
the new renewable energy were to be used for the diesel engine.
He said the energy plantation pilot project was supplying
energy for a timber factory in Kertih. Bernama
Source: The New Straits Times
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