Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Alternative Energy

Finally, nuclear power is officially mentioned as one of the energy mix for Malaysia in the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP), which was presented in the Parliament, Thursday, 10 June. It is interesting to note that, rightly so, it is branded as an 'alternative' source of energy, different from the more frequently mentioned 'renewable' energy.
In fact there ought to be another class, which I call 'replenishable' energy source to which bio fuel, biomass, refused derived fuel (RDF), and other bio-based fuel should be categorized. They are generally regarded as renewable, which in the true sense of the word, they are not. Solar, hydro, wind, wave, and geothermal are truly renewable.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Cultural factors in nuclear power program..

That nuclear power is a safe and viable energy source seems to gain the agreement of many. Chernobyl and Three Mile Island have been mentioned less and less as reasons for not going nuclear. So as Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the 65th anniversary is just a month away. At least that part is gaining acceptance. Even current President of the Malaysian Nature Society, that share the same abbreviation MNS with the Malaysian Nuclear Society, admitted that nuclear energy is a way to go. That he said after being briefed and learnt a bit more on the technology he began to see its merit.
The government decision to introduce nuclear power program was debated in the parliament yesterday. The argument against nuclear power this time took a different dimension. The question is can we, Malaysians, handle it since some of the even mundane projects ended up disastrously. Ignoring the success stories like Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, SMART Tunnel, Penang bridge, the collapsed stadium in Terengganu was mentioned as a case in point. That I believe, was a case of over generalizing an exception.
Where there is no will, there is no way...