In Malaysia, the current energy systems that we use today were designed more than 80 years ago and have been only incrementally modified since then. The systems worked very well all this time but that was when the efficiency and durability were less important. The systems also were not really environmentally friendly and need to improve the system with better technology systems. In addition, if this industry ignores current critical problem, it can lead the industry failing to face the challenges of a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy system. To be the top 10 Global Utility company by 2025, Tenaga National Berhad (TNB) should improve the quality of the product produced and facilitate the customers in the country.
As we can see for the last few years, the strong economic growth is driving demand for electricity. According to state power company, TNB is expected that the electricity demand growth continues about 3.5% for the next 10 years and 2.7% for the next 20 years. Over recent years, TNB have manages to maintain a healthy reserve margin about 20 percent against quickly rising demand. The cheap domestic gas, power price control and subsidies have kept the price and cost of the electricity low along this few back years but, the depletion of the local natural gas resources and the country becomes increasingly reliant on international coal for its fuels supply affected the raises of the electricity tariffs from 1 January last year. In addition, there is urgent need to increase operational efficiency of the energy systems by increase the utilisation of transmission and distribution assets and to reduce system losses. Because of this issues, TNB has planned a better strategy in order to expand it transmission and distribution grid capacity and also to improve the grid’s reliability and efficiency in Malaysia.
One of the three strategies that will implement by TNB is based on Digitalization Grid system to expands its transmission and distribution grid capacity. Digital grid is the digitalization of electricity, gas and water networks using advanced technology. This system allows two-way communication between the utilities, network and also the customers. It also provides data useful for the customers and for the grid management and operation. Smart meters, new smart sensors, network remote control and automation systems, digital platforms that focus on optimization and aggregation allow for the real-time operation of the network. All these high technology devices help to improve situational awareness and utility services.
As the need for electricity increase significantly, the way we consume energy also changing. By the time, the digitalization seems important in this industry. There are many advantages from this system. One of the advantages is the system connect decentralized power from renewable, micro grids and virtual power plants as well as energy storage alongside traditional bulk generations. The digitalization also can improve the reliability of current grids by making them smarter, able to self-detect and self-heal outages and to reroute power as needed. In the future, the utility will operate, augmented and interconnected by digital technologies. This allows the power and the information flows in both directions.
In the digitalization system, the smart meter is important to implement this system. Smart meter can carry out processes such as registrations, cancelations, interruptions, reconnections, power control and tariff changes by remotely without any manual intervention on the meter. The smart meter also enables faults to be located and addressed more quickly to ensuring power supply is interrupted for the shortest time. Other than that, the electricity reading via the smart meter is much better than the previous meter. It also more exact and provides more flexible billing service. The tariffs also can be programmed remotely. The improving of the reading system allows to view electricity consumption details so that we can choose the best tariffs to suit our specific energy needed. Overall, this device is very crucial in this industry and make the systems more effective in all aspects.
The ultra-supercritical technology is seen to be more efficient when they achieve the a net electricity efficiency of 50%. This efficiency is higher than conventional power plant around 33%. It burns less 50% of fuel than conventional power plant and still produce the same amount of power. This make them more friendly towards the environment than the other types of power plant.
The environment emission of these plants are negligible and some super-ultracritical employ carbon capture technology . These ultra-supercritical power plants are lower in capital of maintenance and operation cost.