UTHM Hybrid Micro Hydro System Poised To Boost Power Supply For Orang Asli In Kampung Peta

MERSING, March 18 (Bernama) -- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) is set to broaden its deployment of the Hybrid Solar Micro Hydro System to benefit the Orang Asli community in Kampung Peta here as a sustainable and more dependable source of electricity.

UTHM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mas Fawzi Mohd Ali said the system, developed in collaboration with the Johor National Parks Corporation (PTNJ) at Endau-Rompin National Park (Peta), Johor, has been in operation since 2013 and serves as the primary source of electricity for the Nature Education and Research Centre (NERC) here.

“The focus now is to ensure that the system at NERC and PTNJ facilities is stable before expanding it to the community,” he told Bernama during the UTHM-PTNJ Edutourism Field Trip Expedition at NERC in Endau-Rompin National Park recently.

The programme aims to explore, strengthen, and develop strategic collaborations to advance UTHM’s edutourism initiatives through the Living Lab @ NERC, which showcases the Solar-Micro Hydro Hybrid System as a key attraction for high-impact edutourism.

Mas Fawzi said that efforts to upgrade the electricity generation system, which had a capacity of around 15 kilowatts (kW), were underway following damage caused by the 2023 flood.

He said that the system was not only more sustainable, but also capable of reducing operating costs compared with diesel-powered generators.

Meanwhile, UTHM Ecohydro Focus Group researcher Dr Izat Yahya said that the system used water from Sungai Semawak, located about 800 metres from the turbine at NERC.

He said that following repairs after the 2023 flood, the system now supplies electricity to various facilities, including the surau, chalets, laboratory, halls, and dormitories.

“The main challenge is the dry season when the water level drops, hence efforts are being made to improve the mini dam and energy storage system,” he said.

He said that the system had the potential to be expanded to interior areas and islands that still rely entirely on generators for electricity.

Meanwhile, Aslan Ali, 32, a member of the Kampung Peta Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA), said that he hoped the plan to extend the solar hybrid system to Kampung Peta could become a reality.

He said that more than 900 villagers were still dependent on diesel generator sets and solar systems from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), and that the current electricity supply was unstable due to limited capacity and weather conditions.

“If this alternative source is available, at least we will have another option for our daily electricity needs,” he said, adding that residents currently use only essential appliances such as lamps and refrigerators.

Aslan said that the use of high-power appliances such as air conditioners could cause electricity supply disruptions to the entire village.

Aming Akap, 78, said that electricity consumption, particularly at night, needed to be controlled to ensure a stable supply.

“If too much electricity is used at night, the lights may dim or go off, and using generators is costly,” he said.

-- BERNAMA