Tourism officials rejected the request on the basis that the turbines looked ugly on the coastlines. They said it would be noisy and bad for tourism..
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government is not keen on having wind turbines line its coastal stretch, which is why the current federal study is being done on a private property.
Four wind turbines funded by the federal government has been successfully operating on private land since last year.
The turbines have been producing sufficient electricity bolts by harnessing wind, storing a total of about 40 kilowatts (kw) per day within its batteries.
Despite conflicting statements by federal leaders on the viability of harnessing wind as an alternative energy source, the study conducted by Sirim showed “a measure of consistency”.
When the results were revealed last year, the study was brought forward to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), which granted government funding for studying wind as a renewable energy source.
Sirim then approached Tourism Ministry to build turbines on the state government’s land to further study its potential.
According to sources close to the project the idea, when brought to the state, was shot down by Tourism officials.
“They rejected the request on the basis that the turbines looked ugly on the coastlines. They said it would be noisy and bad for tourism,” said the source.
The test turbines were finally built after reaching an agreement with a private land owner.
Currently, the owner enjoys free electricity powered by the wind as the turbines are able to produce the desired electricity bolts.
The use of wind as a renewable energy has been a source of dispute as Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili is optimistic about its potential.
But federal Science Technology and Innovation Minister Ebin Ewon, is not in favour of harnessing wind due to low wind energy in Sabah.
Winds need to travel at least 2-meter per second to be harnessed. The winds at Simpang Mengayau, Sabah is reportedly travelling a little over the required minimum.
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