Utilisation of solar energy in Malaysia

Abstract

The world depends on the availability of cheap and abundant energy for survival. The growth of modern industry and the explosive increase in world population have made additional and extensive demands on the world supply of energy; industry requires fuel for power while the population requires fuel for food production. While the industrial economy might be able to with-stand spiralling fuel costs there would come a time when supply would be insufficient to meet demand because of the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels. Experts have predicted a world-wide acute shortage of fuel in the future although they have yet to agree upon the time when fuel reserves would be seriously depleted. We may have to seek alternative sources of energy when the time comes. These could be from nuclear energy, solar energy, water, wind and tidal power, geothermal energy, and may be even from animal wastes. Nuclear energy involves large capital investments and are potentially hazardous if sited near urban areas because of radiation effects. Geothermal power is limited to places with underground thermal energy spots; hydro-power on the availability of vast supplies of running water; and tidal power to places with coastal areas.