- Sarawak aims to reach fifteen gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by the year twenty thirty-five.
- This massive expansion creates thousands of new career opportunities for young engineers and technical professionals.
- Young workers must learn technical skills and digital tools to succeed in these modern green jobs.
- Local universities and training centres provide the necessary education to prepare youth for these specific roles.
- Skilled graduates will help achieve the state goal of sixty percent renewable energy by twenty thirty.
Sarawak stands at the threshold of one of the most ambitious energy transitions in Southeast Asia.
With installed capacity projected to grow from 5,745 megawatts in 2024 to 10 gigawatts by 2030 and 15 gigawatts by 2035, the state is creating an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals across every segment of the renewable energy value chain.
For the youth of Sarawak, this expansion represents a generational opportunity to build meaningful careers while contributing directly to the decarbonization of the regional economy.
Opportunities and Gains for Young Professionals
The scale of infrastructure development underway offers diverse entry points for young talent.
The Baleh hydroelectric project, a 1,285-megawatt facility targeted for completion in December 2029, requires thousands of engineers, technicians, and project managers during its construction and operational phases.
Similarly, the solar sector is expanding rapidly, with an official target of 1,500 megawatts by 2030 under the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy.
Floating solar installations at the Bakun and Murum reservoirs, each exploring up to 1,000 megawatts of capacity, will need specialized marine and electrical engineers.
Beyond generation, the cross-border power export agenda creates entirely new career corridors.
The 275-kilovolt Sarawak to Sabah interconnection, which began commercial operations in December 2025, and the proposed 1-gigawatt subsea cable to Singapore, expected by the mid-2030s, demand expertise in high voltage transmission, subsea engineering, and international energy trade.
The green hydrogen sector, despite near term recalibrations, maintains a long-term vision anchored on exports to Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, opening pathways in chemical engineering and clean fuel logistics.
Young professionals entering these fields can expect competitive remuneration, exposure to cutting edge technology, and the satisfaction of working on projects with genuine environmental impact.
The state’s average electricity tariff of 28 cent per kilowatt hour, the lowest unsubsidized rate in Malaysia, is actively attracting energy intensive industries such as data centres and green technology parks, further multiplying employment opportunities for skilled graduates.
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes
Success in Sarawak’s renewable energy sector requires a blend of technical proficiency and adaptive mindset.
Core technical knowledge should span electrical and mechanical engineering, power systems analysis, photovoltaic technology, and energy storage systems.
The commissioning of the Sejingkat battery energy storage system, a 60 megawatt and 82 megawatt hour facility and the first of its kind in Malaysia, underscores the growing demand for battery chemistry and grid integration expertise.
Equally important are digital competencies, including data analytics, geographic information systems for site assessment, and supervisory control and data acquisition systems for plant operations.
Soft skills such as cross-cultural communication, project management, and environmental impact assessment are critical, particularly for professionals working on transnational interconnector projects or large-scale hydroelectric developments that involve community resettlement considerations.
The right attitude is perhaps the most distinguishing factor.
Young professionals must embrace continuous learning, demonstrate resilience in the face of project timeline shifts, and maintain a genuine commitment to sustainability.
The renewable energy sector evolves rapidly, and adaptability is the single most valuable trait a young worker can cultivate.
Where to Upskill and Build Competencies
Sarawak offers a growing ecosystem of institutions equipped to prepare youth for these roles.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus provide accredited engineering degrees with specializations in renewable energy and power systems.
Curtin University Malaysia in Miri offers programs closely aligned with the energy sector, benefiting from its proximity to major industrial zones.
For hands on technical training, the Advanced Technology Training Centres and Industrial Training Institutes across Sarawak deliver competency-based certifications in electrical installation, solar panel maintenance, and high voltage safety.
Sarawak Energy Berhad itself operates internal training academies and apprenticeship programs that provide direct industry exposure.
Additionally, online platforms such as Coursera and the International Renewable Energy Agency learning portal offer globally recognized micro credentials in solar design, wind energy, and green hydrogen fundamentals.
Expectations After Skill Acquisition
Youth who invest in these competencies can realistically expect to enter a labour market with significant structural demand.
The capacity gap of approximately 1.3 gigawatts that must be filled by 2030 guarantees sustained project pipelines across hydro, solar, and storage segments.
Graduates with specialized certifications can anticipate roles ranging from solar farm commissioning engineers and battery storage technicians to cross border grid analysts and hydrogen process engineers.
More broadly, these skills position young Sarawakians as essential contributors to the state’s Post Coronavirus Development Strategy 2030, which mandates that renewable sources constitute at least 60 percent of the total capacity mix.
By aligning their education and training with the state’s energy ambitions, the youth of Sarawak can secure not only personal prosperity but also a leading role in shaping the sustainable future of Southeast Asia.
References
Bernama. (2024, October). Sarawak exceeds renewable energy targets, 62% capacity mix. https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2354613
Borneo Post. (2026, May 18). Sarawak plans electricity exports to Brunei, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia. https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/05/18/julaihi-sarawak-plans-electricity-exports-to-brunei-singapore-peninsular-malaysia/
Borneo Post. (2026, June 9). Sarawak recalibrates H2biscus and H2ornbill hydrogen projects amid financial constraints. https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/06/09/sarawak-recalibrates-h2biscus-and-h2ornbill-hydrogen-projects-amid-financial-constraints/
DayakDaily. (2025, June). Sarawak targets 1,500MW solar by 2030. https://dayakdaily.com/sarawak-targets-1500mw-solar-energy-by-2030-to-accelerate-renewable-transition/
Masdar. (2025). Murum floating solar joint study. https://masdar.ae/en/news/newsroom/masdar-sarawak-energy-and-gentari-to-assess-large-scale-floating-solar-project-in-malaysia
Premier’s Department (UKAS). (2025, June). Baleh impoundment 2027, completion December 2029. https://premierdept.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/news_view/19825/UKAS
Sarawak Energy. (2025). Sarawak’s Progress Powered By Renewable Hydropower. https://www.sarawakenergy.com/media-info/media-releases/2025/sarawaks-progress-powered-by-renewable-hydropower
Sarawak Energy. (2026). Sarawak Sabah interconnection energisation. https://www.sarawakenergy.com/media-info/media-releases/2026/energisation-of-sarawak-sabah-interconnection-strengthens-regional-grid-network-2
Sarawak Energy. (n.d.). Tariff structure. https://www.sarawakenergy.com/investors/tariff-structure
SolarQuarter. (2025, February 17). Sejingkat BESS. https://solarquarter.com/2025/02/17/sarawak-energy-launches-malaysias-first-utility-scale-battery-energy-storage-system-at-sejingkat-power-plant/
