MAINSTREAMING EE AS AN INDUSTRY...PART 3...COMPETENT & CENTRALIZED EE BODY

v) The need to have one- stop centre for EE in Malaysia 

Why do we need another body? Don't you think we have sufficient existing agencies to look after EE for the country? Would there be overlapping works if we create a new one and how to streamline everything at one body when energy itself is governed by few ministries and agencies in term of policies and implementation. The structure that I have shown in my post explained that concerns too.

For many years, even since I came into this EE field...EE efforts have been implemented by many parties and we can proudly say that..we have done a lot.I can list hundreds of EE initiatives that I came across  until today but can anyone answer this question...how much energy exactly that we have saved from millions of RM that spent on those initiatives? Who is accountable to monitor the whole progress and current performance and if anyone claimed they have achieved some amount of energy savings...who can verify and declare that as apart of our nation's performance? My involvement in the National EE Master plan study from 2008 until the time I left the government  has clearly concluded the same thing as one of the findings...MALAYSIA NEEDS A CENTRALIZED BODY FOR EE...whether it is new or putting it at any existing body...it is secondary to me. 

As the structure that I shared in the part 1 under the main title, there are 5 major components which require attention from the centralized body namely buildings,industrial,competency&accreditation, education&awareness and R&D in EE. Another three key areas to be taken care by the body; managing the EE fund,EE data and final the enforcement of the EE law. 

The existing agencies or organizations such as Energy Commission, Malaysia Green Tech. Corporation(MGTC and formerly PTM) and recently SEDA Malaysia  have  implemented some EE measures so far under various programs and project but can any of them take care all the above?

If any of them or someone with the authority to make that happen, I have 200% support for it. If no one is ready or still having reservations or still unsure...Malaysia has no time to wait any longer.The longer we wait, we will waste more and our nation's pocket will get lighter just to meet the need to subsidize more for every single unit of energy that we use and waste too! 

At BCA Academy, Singapore 2009

Having a dedicated body for EE is already a proven model in many countries and the idea to have in Malaysia is definitely not due to we just for the sake of following others.The closet example is Japan where hundreds of Malaysian have been trained in EE for years and from all the levels of people from policy makers to technical personnel. Why we still hoping to get different positive results when we keep doing it on piece meal basis by everyone for the past 20 years until this moment...we do not even know how much we have achieved. 

Policy makers may not feel the hassle and difficulties when there is no one stop center for EE in this country directly.It affects the users and industrial players!Even energy regulators may not feel it because EE does not affect the bottom line or competiveness for any of them although facts on our energy needs, performance and current&future supply status are with them.

Why? May be they are too busy focusing on the supply matters and all economic part of supply side.Nothing wrong with that but now we need to balance it with the attentions that need to be given to the demand side.

Having a new agency or body may not be a good idea too since they will involve extra costs when some existing agencies have already the foundation to carry on further. For example , Energy Commission has already some regulatory powers  in the existing Energy Commission Act 2001, Electricity Supply Act 1990 and the Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 (EMEER 2008) as described in the following sections:

ESA 1990

Section 4: Functions And Duties

(la) to promote the efficient use of electricity

Part VA Efficient Use Of Electricity

Section 23a. Minister To Determine Standards, Etc.

The Minister may, from time to time, prescribe the standards, specifications, practices and measures to be adopted and any other matters in respect of the efficient use of electricity.

Section 23b. Installation To Meet Requirements.

No person shall use or operate any installation unless the installation meets such requirements as may be prescribed in respect of the efficient use of electricity.

Section 23c. Equipment To Meet Requirements.

No person shall manufacture, import, sell or offer for sale or lease any equipment unless the equipment meets such requirements as may be prescribed in respect of the efficient use of electricity.

ENERGY COMMISSION ACT 2001

Section 4

(g) to promote efficiency, economy and safety in the generation, production, transmission, distribution supply and use of electricity and the use of gas through pipelines and the use of gas supplied through pipelines

(i) to promote the use of renewable energy and the conservation of no-renewable energy

(j) to promote into, and the development and the use of new technologies related to-

   (i) the generation, production, transmission, distribution supply   and     use of electricity; and 

  (ii) the use of gas through pipelines and the use of gas supplied through pipelines

Based on my knowledge, those statements in the main act can serve as enablers  to come up with specific requirements for implementation that can be detailed in the form Regulations under the act. However, over the years, what have been done generally were on the promotional and awareness parts only on voluntary basis while the detailed regulatory  portion of EE  haven't progress that much.

The EMEER 2008 was introduced in 2008 and now implemented but it wasdrafted way back from 1997( the year I graduated from university).The first draft was more comprehensive and covered energy management, MEPS and also EE labeling but the final version only covers the management and very general too.

EC Building in Putrajaya

 My point here, if EC would like become the centralized body for EE, there should be a very significant and drastic changes to the current EE set up to deliver what is required for the country to look after all components in EE industry.

The current has been clearly unable address the changing needs of EE industry in the country and for years, EE has never treated  as one of their "core businesses" especially when it became a unit from a department since 2008.

I was involved partly in the set up of PTM in 1999 and prepared the capacity building program for the initial batch of the staff too. The idea of setting up PTM was to cater the needs of having one agency for EE too which would serve as a think-tank for strategic EE matters,coordination for implementation, R&D and many more. Now, I am not sure what really happened against what the initial intentions of it establishment since they are officially known for green related matters which have broader scopes.

MGTC Building in Bangi

There are some suggestions to park EE under SEDA Malaysia which is currently responsible for RE Act and FiT for RE  development in Malaysia but still no clear decisions on that matter too.

SEDA Malaysia at Galeria PjH Putrajaya

The execution of the specified functions in the centralized body for EE need to be planned, strengthened and supported with   the utilization of existing institutions or organizations based on their already available facilities and in-house expertise.

The centralized EE body  will tie up with these institutions or organizations and work together strategically in long term basis with agreed terms and conditions.

Below are some of the proposed scope of  duties  for the EE Centralized EE Body that I can share with all the readers here based on what I believe and  from some readings and references in few countries that have been succesfully implementing EE initiatives.

General Scopes

• To advise and assist the government to develop EE policy, law and regulations;
•  As a one stop agency to coordinate, monitor and to ensure measurement and evaluation to be carried out to determine the impacts from the implementation of EE activities;
• To prepare, implement and to monitor all planned activities for EE
• To perform the regulatory works such as enforcement, investigation and prosecution for no compliance of EE law, regulation and standards; and
• To coordinate and monitor all collaboration activities to be carried out with agencies and organizations for local and international levels.

Scope of works need to be defined for based on the core elements in the implementation of EE&EC activities and the details is  described in the followings

At TERI Gual Pahari, Gurgaon,India, 2008

Compliance and Technical Support for Designated Buildings and Industrial Facilities

Training with ECCJ Expert in Kita-senju, Tokyo Japan,2008

• To perform evaluation and technical assessment for the compliance with   EE law and regulations based of on reports submitted by selected high energy   users on their EE program;
• Monitoring and verification of compliance for high energy users based on reports submitted;
• To provide assistance in technical supports in energy auditing and the implementation of EE  projects;
• To assist in the publication of guidelines on energy audit, EE project implementation and management, best practices, energy management system and etc;
• To assist in the development of standards for energy efficient equipment and appliances;
• To carry out analysis or technical evaluation for projects that have been implemented or on-going upon requests or required;
• To perform technical measurement and project monitoring works for EE projects;
• To provide expertise and experts   for training program delivery as speakers or facilitators; and
• To coordinate and monitor activities carried out by organizations appointed to perform some of its functions

Competency and Accreditation

• To establish certification and accreditation procedures for energy managers, energy auditor and energy services companies (ESCOs);
• To establish accreditation procedures covering selection, evaluation and monitoring for institutes/training centers to carry out trainings for competency;
• To prepare syllabus and materials for trainings;
•  To identify trainers to conduct trainings;
• To prepare examination questions and conduct national level examination for competencies;
• To manage registration and renewal of registration for competent persons and ESCOs;and
• Assist in providing materials or input to increase awareness on the requirements and the importance of competency and accreditation to implement EE activities.

With Key Officers on EE from Asean, Singapore 2011

Equipment and Appliances

• To carry out research on   Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) for selected equipment and appliances;
• To enhance, improve and continue the labeling program and promotion for refrigerators and high efficiency motors;
•  To have an established partnership program with relevant organizations to carry out the research on standard,   labeling and to provide testing facilities;
•  To develop and decide on standards to be used in energy efficient appliances;
• To establish procedures for approval and certification of energy efficient equipment and to implement the standard and labeling program;
• Assisting in on-going promotion of the energy efficient standards and labeling program to manufacturers, importers and general public about types of label introduced;
•  To coordinate and monitor activities carried out by organizations appointed to perform some of its functions such as SIRIM for testings.

Education and Awareness

•  To coordinate the implementation and monitoring of educational,   campaign and promotional activities for industries and public carried out by the body and other organizations;
•  To carry out evaluation on each program on all activities implemented in order to measure their performance;
• To ensure dissemination of information  with regard to the requirements for competencies, standard and labeling for energy efficient equipment, the importance of efficient energy management  and energy auditing, best practices in energy usage, new technologies and many more;
•  To establish cooperation with relevant educational agencies such as Curriculum Development Center in order to enhance the contents with regard to EE in school syllabus;
• To propose to the Ministry of Higher Learning to introduce EE courses at universities in order to produce professionals and experts in EE  field;
•  To introduce recognition and reward programs for individual and organization on their significant contributions or the implementation of project with regard to EE;
•  To publish and distribute brochures, guidelines and etc with regard to EE to all sectors of energy users; and
• To coordinate and monitor activities carried out by organizations appointed to perform some of its functions such as CETREEE.

 R&D and Technology Applications.

•  To identify areas in EE and carry out R&D activities;
• To establish cooperation or strategic partnership programs with various agencies at local and international levels with regard to research and new technology applications in EE;
• To develop and assist in the publication   of guidelines on EE;
•  To identify and showcase demonstration projects on EE and its accomplishment;
• To develop, introduce and maintain centralized database systems for energy sectors;
• To assist in the development of standards and introduction of new technology in energy efficient equipment; and
• To coordinate and monitor activities carried out by organizations appointed to perform some of its functions such as  universities and research institutes.

At Solar Research Centre, Gual Pahari , India

Other scopes would cover the management&distribution of the EE funds, enforcement of the EE Law and accountable for EE related data for the country.

I we go to Japan, whoever performing EE initiatives, finally they would have to come across Energy Conservation Centre of Japan(ECCJ) for any EE technical reference, assistance, trainings and etc.For energy related data in Japan, they have the Institute of Energy Economic of Japan.

If we go to India, there will be Bureau of Energy Efficiency as a regulator and technical related matters can be referred to bodies like The Energy & Resources  Institute(TERI). Then, if we go to Singapore, for building EE matters can be referred to BCA for and in Thailand they have the Department of Alternative Energy Development&Efficiency(DEDE) and the details about them can be referred at websites as below:

http://www.asiaeec-col.eccj.or.jp/index.html

http://eneken.ieej.or.jp/en

http://www.beeindia.in

http://www.teriin.org/index.php

http://www.bca.gov.sg/Sustain/sustain.html

http://www.dede.go.th

The structures, responsibilities and accountability for EE in these countries are clear and made known to everyone. People and industrial players know where to refer but sadly in our country, the moment you want pursue EE related matters you may need to go partly to endless list and finally you may end with nothing too despite time have been spent for your searches.

The immediate example is, if you want to apply for EE&RE  Fiscal Incentives, you have to go to MIDA  and later to be forwarded to EC for EE and  last MBIPV Project Team for RE products. At each stop, no one can assure you  the actual time frame when you will get the decision for your applications.However, they may have improved now...I don't know.

Until today, still no decision made on who is suppose to be responsible and accountable on EE and the more we delay it, it will definitely putting uncertainty in the industry itself because we have to listen to many with different ideas and opinions on what's the best.

Finally, my point here again, we need the centralized and competent  body for the implementation of EE matters or a dedicated body to look after each component or some components in EE industry in Malaysia and that has been a proven working model in many countries.