KUALA LUMPUR, 20th June – The Sustainable Energy Reacting Flow (SERF) Research Group at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully hosted the Business Lunch to initiate the ‘Sustainable Combustion Showcase’, a pivotal event aimed at accelerating the transition towards cleaner energy solutions in Malaysia. The showcase, held at Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur, brought together key stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with sustainable combustion technologies.
Prof. Dr. Mazlan Abdul Wahid who is Head of the Research Group, delivered his plenary speech highlighting UTM’s initiatives in establishing a Sustainable Combustion Centre (SCC) and the Malaysia Sustainable Combustion and Energy Society (MaSCE). He emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia, industry, and government to drive the adoption of clean energy technologies and achieve Malaysia’s net-zero carbon emission targets 2050.
The following roundtable discussion featured insightful perspectives from industry leaders, including representatives from Malakoff Corporation Berhad, PETRONAS, Cypark Smart Technology, TNB Genco, SD Guthrie Berhad, and MTC Group. The discussion centered on the financial and technical hurdles in transitioning from coal to cleaner alternatives like biomass, hydrogen, and ammonia. Participants stressed the need for government policies, incentives, and academic research to make clean energy solutions commercially viable and accessible.
In addition, Dr. Nor Azizi Mazalan from Malakoff Corporation Berhad emphasized the importance of energy transition for market relevance and outlined the historical energy trends in Malaysia. He highlighted the challenges in transitioning to cleaner fuels due to their higher costs and called for government support and incentives to drive the industry towards net-zero carbon emissions.
Next, continuing from Prof. Jong In Dong from the University of Seoul shared South Korea’s environmental policies, emphasizing recycling, energy recovery, and the utilization of waste products for heat generation. He highlighted the strict regulations against direct emissions and the successful implementation of waste-to-energy initiatives.
The showcase concluded with a consensus among participants to form a collaborative society comprising power producers, industries, policymakers, and university experts. The society aims to collectively address concerns, propose solutions, and assist the government in formulating effective policies that support sustainable development and energy efficiency goals.
The Business Lunch on Sustainable Combustion Showcase served as a catalyst for collaboration and knowledge exchange, paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable energy future in Malaysia.