Amanda Siddharta
Research expert covering Malaysia
Renewable energy in Malaysia - statistics & facts
Malaysians who live in big cities like the capital, Kuala Lumpur, or Penang, are familiar with barely breathable air caused by pollution. The annual average concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 reached 15.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, three times the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit. It is not a surprise due to the Southeast Asian country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel as a source of energy. The CO2 emissions in Malaysia were among the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, mainly caused by oil, gas, and coal consumption. Nevertheless, with the threat of climate change looming, as well as the limited supply of fossil fuel, Malaysia is slowly but surely making the transition toward cleaner renewable energy.
Potential from solar energy
Located close to the equator, Malaysia’s climate created the perfect environment for the country to utilize the potential of solar energy. The capacity for solar energy in Malaysia was at 1.93 thousand megawatts last year and has increased by more than ten times in the past decade. Despite the potential, as of now, the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources has only reached 3.1 terawatt-hours, compared to 77.3 terawatt-hours of electricity from coal.Government’s ambitious renewable energy roadmap
The Malaysian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources commissioned the Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER) in 2021 and set a target to source 31 percent of the country’s power capacity from renewable energy by 2025. This initiative also aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 45 percent in 2030. Although this goal seemed ambitious, the total capacity of renewable power generation in Malaysia has increased to more than nine thousand megawatts in 2022. The ministry said Malaysia was on the right track to reach its renewable energy target.Consumers’ awareness of sustainability
Consumers in Malaysia are currently becoming more aware of climate change and the importance of more sustainable lifestyles and clean energy. According to a 2023 survey on efforts to reduce carbon footprints, 32 percent of the respondents said switching to renewable electricity would make the most impact. Despite the fact that most Malaysian car owners still depend on fossil fuel for their vehicles, more people agree that electric vehicles will be the future. As of now, there are around two thousand electric vehicles in Malaysia. The majority of consumers in Malaysia are also willing to pay more for sustainable goods and services. With increased awareness from the people and initiatives from the government, Malaysia is well underway to transition to cleaner renewable energy.
