KUCHING: Sarawak Energy has signed a two-year research agreement with Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus to explore the characteristic and potential utilisation of fly ash produced from its 624MW Balingian Coal Fired Power Plant into potential construction materials.
According to Sarawak Energy in a statement on Friday (Sept 17), the two parties would collaborate to form a multidisciplinary team consisting of chemical and civil engineers who would contribute to innovative solutions and formation of useful products from fly ash, making full use of its resources and waste utilisation.
The multidisciplinary project is led by Swinburne Sarawak’s Associate Professor Jaka Sunarso from Chemical Engineering and Dr Chung Siung Choo from Civil Engineering in collaboration with Sarawak Energy’s Melvina Tan and Chen Wei Fang from Research and Development.
The team will first collaborate to conduct a study to reveal the unique characteristics of fly ash at Balingian Coal Fired Power Plant and will adopt the research by design approach to develop a suitable activator that can harden the ashes into a larger structure using the information obtained.
It added further exploration will also be carried out into the potential of casting the structure into a suitable form that can be potentially utilised in the construction sector.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held virtually on Sept 13, Sarawak Energy chief operating officer Lu Yew Hung said Sarawak Energy was committed to innovating and improving operations to maximise positive benefits for our people and planet.
“This includes embedding circular economy concepts into our business to advance sustainable energy development – an important focus area for business and environmental sustainability.
“The research agreement signing ceremony with Swinburne Sarawak on the study of Balingian fly ash and its potential as construction materials is one of the many efforts towards this direction. This also supports our desire to promote open innovation in our research and development works.”
Meanwhile Swinburne Sarawak pro vice-chancellor and chief executive officer Ir Professor Lau Hieng Ho said that Swinburne Sarawak was pleased to partner with Sarawak Energy on the project to provide a technology solution as it aligned with and advanced Swinburne’s 2025 Vision to become a world-class university that creates social and economic impact through science, technology, and innovation.
Sarawak Energy was represented by Research and Development general manager Dr Ng Sing Muk while Swinburne Sarawak was represented by Prof Lau.
The agreement was witnessed by Sarawak Energy Legal general manager George A. W. Chapman and Swinburne Innovation Malaysia chief executive officer Future Projects of Swinburne Sarawak director Prof Wallace Wong Shung Hui.
