| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1029803 | Energy Strategy Reviews | 2015 | 15 Pages |
•Growing debate over energy megaprojects in developing countries highlights the limited quantitative analysis in literature.•We prepare a capacity expansion model for a state in Borneo, Southeast Asia where mega-dam developments are underway.•Comparing optimal expansion under various demand growth scenarios shows building excess capacity increases total system cost.•Under current prices renewable technologies that use solar and biomass waste are technically feasible and cost comparative.•Government incentive schemes can significantly change the optimal capacity expansion plan and affect total system cost.
A contentious debate is taking place over plans for a series of mega-dams under development in Malaysian Borneo. There is little quantitative analysis of the energy options or cost and benefit trade-offs in the public discussion or the literature. To fill this gap we developed a model of the proposed energy system and alternative scenarios using the commercial energy market software PLEXOS. We prepared a 15 year long-term capacity energy expansion model for the state of Sarawak which includes existing generation, resource and operability constraints, direct and indirect costs. We explore a range of demand growth and policy assumptions and model the resulting generation mixes and economic trade-offs. Our central finding is that a diversified generation mix including solar and biomass waste resources can meet future demand at lower cost than additional dam construction.
