I express strong reservations towards the direction Chief Minister Abang Johari and the State Government is taking in the introduction of hydrogen buses in Kuching and question whether such initiative was properly thought through and proper understanding of the industry was done before taking such a huge decision in embarking into this venture.
While I agree that risk has to be taken for our country to move forward in this fast-paced era, but this risk should be calculated and not taken recklessly especially when there are better options out there considering the demographics and resources we have right now in the State.
Abang Johari was reportedly saying that he has confidence that hydrogen is the energy of the future and that there is a move worldwide to transform energy from fossil fuel to clean energy. This may have shown his shallow understanding of not just the technology, but also the potential and ground needs of Sarawak.
While I agree in the direction to move away from fossil fuel to clean energy, but the fact of the matter is that, hydrogen is firstly not an energy source, but an energy vector or carrier, and production of hydrogen in its purest form, is not clean.
Almost all of the high purity hydrogen that is being mass produced globally comes from fossil fuel. This is because high amount of energy needed to electrolyse water into hydrogen, and this energy is mainly produced through burning of fossil fuel.
For example, in China, the main feedstock for hydrogen are produced from cracking coal (18%), Oil (30%) and Natural Gas (48%), and only a mere 4% comes from water.
Hydrogen produced around the world, as mentioned, is not clean. Electrolysis of water is expensive, and slow. Thus, this could result in hydrogen technology being expensive to the consumer as electrolysis is costly, and the cost of it being volatile to oil and gas prices as mentioned that it is mainly produced using fossil fuel cracking.
That is why I believe that the better direction and better calculated ‘risk’ for us to focus on building the field of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or the common electric bus in comparison to the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). More and more research focus around the world has shifted their research and development to battery and capacitor technology as it is seen to me more sustainable, lower maintenance cost and have a longer lifespan.
For the development of FCV, we will need to build a new hydrogen production plant, special tankers for transportation or low temperature high pressure pipeline network, and specialized fueling stations to power the FCV, in comparison to BEV where we can have a direct connection into the existing electrical grid anywhere anytime to charge up the said batteries. This we haven’t considered the cost of a hydrogen-powered bus which estimated cost around USD 1 million each bus based on prices that Denmark spent as a trial phase earlier this year.
Sarawak is one of the leaders in renewable energy development in the Southeast Asia region. The fact that Sarawakian enjoys the lowest electricity tariff in Southeast Asia region due to availability of electricity generated through our mega hydroelectric dams including the Bakun Dam makes it an even more conducive environment to develop BEW technology in Sarawak rather than hydrogen FCV buses.
Why not take advantage of what we are already good in and rich in. We are not against development of public transportation, nor are we against energy efficient and environmentally friendly technology, but why spend all that money in an attempt to mass produce hydrogen when we already have an abundance of a clean and renewable energy form generated through hydro-electric. (~70%)
That is why I strongly believe, the better direction for the State will be to develop the BEV technology and usage of these electric buses in Sarawak. Just because we have the money or a big reserve, doesn’t mean we can just simply spend it on items that will not be cost effective for the people. All risk that is taken to bring our State forward especially when it involves a significant amount of public funds, has to be properly understood, properly calculated, and most importantly not wasted and end up as a “white elephant in the future”