Article and photos by Dr Andery Lim, the 2018/19 ASEAN Science and Technology Fellow placed at the Sustainable Energy Division, Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The Government of Brunei Darussalam has taken a step to introduce a generation of photovoltaic electricity in the country and connect it with the national grid. It will not only reduce the consumption of fossil fuels for power generation but also demonstrate the importance of this renewable energy source for the public. Since Brunei is aspiring to achieve a 10% increase of total power generation from renewable energy mix resource by 2035, the deployment of solar rooftops can potentially relieve some percentages and contribute towards the renewable energy mix.
Drawing from this, I started my research by collecting more information on the extent to which the national commitment and public interests exist in shaping the solar PV initiative and self-consumption schemes in Brunei. Collections of data were designed by conducting desk reviews on key indicators such as legal frameworks, information disclosure, public participation, survey and interview processes and calculation of the return of investment (ROI) as case exercises. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to probe and triangulate stakeholders’ interests and public concerns. To further assess the application of this initiative and scheme, self-consumption initiatives derived from the ASEAN Member States were benchmarked as case studies.
Furthering my research and building a concept model on net energy metering as a self-consumption scheme has shown to be able to drive the solar rooftop initiative forward with net billing approaches to be considered and this was further styled in my policy brief.
