Current status and possible future applications of marine current energy devices in Malaysia: a review

Abstract

Malaysia has a great potential to harness energy in water due to its long coastline within the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. Malaysia's energy mix could be improved using marine current energy devices (MCEDs) to replace fossil fuel and it is predictable energy compare to hydropower, solar photovoltaic (PV), and biomass. However, MCEDs is not been fully developed in Malaysia. The objectives of this paper are to provide a useful background for policymakers or researchers in the types of MCEDs and potential sites location of MCEDs that are applicable in Malaysia. This review also discusses the issues and challenges of MCEDs in Malaysia. Five types of MCEDs were discussed including tidal range device, tidal stream turbine, wave energy converter, ocean thermal energy conversion, and salinity gradient energy. These MCEDs are compared for their suitability of application in Malaysia. Among all MCEDs, tidal stream turbine is identified as high potential and commercially viable in Malaysia. However, ocean characteristics in Malaysia are low kinetic energy-flux density, low current speed, low tide, and shallow water; only fulfill the minimum requirement of tidal stream turbine making the tidal stream energy resources not significant enough to contribute to the nation's energy mix. Therefore, using diffuser augmented tidal stream turbines to increase the flow velocity should be studied thoroughly.