Alternative energy study poised to begin

THE Canadian consultants hired to look into alternative energy sources for Brunei's future domestic needs yesterday said they are set to start collecting data for the nationwide feasibility study.

Canada's Powertech Labs Inc was hired by Bruneian think tank Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) last month to do the study.

"We're going to evaluate the economics of the different resource options, in this phase of work," said Ron Monk, sector leader of Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd, which was commissioned under Powertech Labs.

Dr Diana Cheong, CSPS senior researcher, said that Powertech would be in the country to conduct a "nationwide feasibility study to identify alternative energy source (s)" since its nomination in May for the project.

Aligning with the 30-year National Development Plan, the study will determine a type of energy source Brunei could invest in that would be commercially viable and contribute as a significant engine of growth.

Powertech will meet with several key players in the commercial industry to collect data as part of the initial scope of study.

Shannon Miles Halliday, business development manager of the Distributed Clean Power division in Powertech, said, "We're scheduled to finish the scoping study, and that will happen around the end of July of this year, and then we'll get to the working plans. Once it's approved by CSPS, we're in agreement of what needs to be done, then we'll go ahead with the feasibility studies."

She added that the study itself could take up to eight months but there were no firm finish dates scheduled.

As part of the study, Powertech will be evaluating economic, environmental and social parameters of each alternative energy or technology, the consultants said.

According to the terms of reference drawn up by CSPS for the study, a business or financial plan with short- to long-term intervals, has also been slated for the study, to "advise planners on the level of funding required, including necessary data on infrastructural requirements and a full market analysis of the industry".

The terms of reference also state that the study would assess "the industry's potential outside of Brunei and target potential economic partners or international joint venture partners such as MNCs (multi-national corporations)".

When asked what the business plan would touch on, Monk, said "If you take one of the technologies ... described (in the presentation), we look at the potential commercial viability, the by-products and downstream industries so ... if we describe wind (energy), it might not be the best technology for application in Brunei, but some downstream technology, some downstream or upstream businesses could be created as a by-product of the generating of the manufacturing facilities."

David Leboe, principal consultant with Powertech, said that the creation of a manufacturing industry to support building alternative energy technologies, would be a strong side effect of implementing alternative energy into the national power supply. "That would be one of the spin-offs for sure," he said, adding that "the first thing is to just look at the capital cost whether you procure that equipment what would the energy cost you?". "Cost is an important driver in considering them as alternatives and in looking at what opportunities there would be to grow certain industries around those technologies," he said.

Monk agreed, saying that as there has been a limited study of alternative energy in Brunei, "This is really the first step to evaluate all the options, and then from there you can then plan out what further needs to be done, in terms of data collection."

He added that development of appropriate laws, and regulations around the development of the resource, would also need to be addressed to proceed successfully.

CSPS has organised a conference, titled "Alternative Energy and Efficiency: Fuelling Economic Growth and Diversification for Brunei Darussalam", on June 14-15. The conference will take place at Hall 3, Indera Samudra Grand Hall, The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

The Brunei Times