In 2024, Malaysia's electricity generation is predominantly fueled by fossil sources, which account for more than three-quarters of the total electricity. Coal and gas have the largest shares, contributing close to half of the electricity with coal at nearly 44% and gas at roughly 33%. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean electricity sources comprise a little over a fifth of Malaysia’s electricity production. Hydropower leads this category, generating almost 18% of the electricity. Biofuels and solar contribute smaller portions, with biofuels at nearly 3% and solar at approximately 2%. The country's reliance on fossil fuels raises concerns about climate change and air pollution, highlighting the need for a shift towards more sustainable electricity production.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Malaysia?
Despite a strong push towards low-carbon sources, Malaysia's overall electricity consumption is seeing a slight decline. The latest data for 2024 shows consumption at 5223 kWh per person, which is 115 kWh lower than the peak recorded in 2019. This stagnation is disappointing, especially in the context of growing demand for electricity to power technologies like AI and further electrification. Interestingly, while overall consumption has decreased, there has been progress in clean electricity. The low-carbon electricity generation has increased to 1153 kWh per person, which is an improvement compared to the previous high in 2022. This shift represents an essential step, but the pace of change needs to accelerate to significantly enhance the share of low-carbon electricity in the country's energy mix.
Suggestions
To enhance Malaysia's low-carbon electricity generation, the country can draw valuable lessons from regions with successful solar and nuclear initiatives. States like California and countries such as Chile demonstrate the potential of solar energy, achieving over 30% solar generation. These examples suggest that Malaysia could significantly expand its solar infrastructure. Additionally, the experiences of nuclear-friendly countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear contributes up to two-thirds of the electricity, showcase the efficacy and reliability of nuclear energy as a clean option. By investing in advanced nuclear technologies and expanding solar capacities, Malaysia can increase its clean electricity share, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and combat the negative environmental impacts associated with them.
History
Reviewing Malaysia's history with low-carbon electricity, hydropower has been a significant contributor since the early 1980s. While there were fluctuations, such as a decrease in 1990 and again in 1996 and 1997, the overall trend for hydropower has been upward. Significant increases were observed in the late 2000s and early 2010s, with a notable surge in 2016 and 2017. In recent years, biofuels also added to the low-carbon mix with contributions in 2009 and a more substantial increase in 2022. In 2024, hydropower once more displayed growth. The historical data underscores the need to sustain and diversify the low-carbon portfolio, emphasizing more robust investment in solar and nuclear energy to ensure a cleaner energy future.
