Development and analysis of national energy system scenarios for Malaysia's energy transition towards net zero

Environmental issues arise from energy systems that heavily rely on fossil fuels to generate electricity for a nation. These challenges can be mitigated by increasing the proportion of renewables in the national energy mix and by using synergistic approaches across various energy consumption sectors. This study aimed to develop five national energy system scenarios for Malaysia to assess the effects of integrating higher capacities of variable renewable energy (VRE) in the long-term. High temporal resolution electricity profiles from the Malaysian Grid System Operator (GSO) via the International Energy Agency (IEA), supplemented by key inputs from energy transition roadmaps: the Malaysian Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), were utilised to develop the scenarios. This study investigated near optimal solutions in total capacities of lithium ion (Li-ion) battery energy storage systems (BESS) and pumped hydro storage (PHS) required by Malaysia in 2040 with the implementation of EE based on NETR 2040 (Scenario 5). With EE, ESS, and the phasing out of coal power plants in the NETR 2040, there was a reduction of 39.62 Mt CO2/year in total CO2 emissions from Scenario 4 to Scenario 5. The findings of this study will aid policymakers and researchers in creating strategies for the development of RE and ESS in Malaysia or other developing countries.