Siti Hajar Mohd Yasin

Soft loan for domestic installation of solar photovoltaic in Malaysia: Is it the best option?

Malaysia has passed the Renewable Energy Act in April 2011, in which the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) mechanism is introduced. The FiT gives much emphasis on the solar photovoltaic (PV). This paper presents, first, an overview of solar PV in Malaysia until the present time. Next, a general concept of the FIT Malaysia is explained and finally the loan financing option for solar PV is presented. It also analyses the impact of the proposed interest rate to household consumers in Malaysia, in terms of the total profit, the net present value and the internal rate of return. It is found that the FiT scheme could potentially help in increasing renewable energy penetration, particularly for solar PV. To provide upfront capital for domestic solar PV installation, the soft loan facility from banking institutions is a feasible source if the interest rate is 5% or less.

Nanotechnology in healthcare: are existing laws adequate?

Nanotechnology is viewed as the next big thing and nanomedicine is its hottest application. Nanomedicine offers promising possibilities of new diagnostic, treatment and preventive methods leading to a better and longer life. The risk, real or perceived, however, as for now, is uncertain. Nevertheless, there is a need to establish measures to verify the safety of the nanomedical products.

Nanotechnology: Regulatory Challenges to Occupational Safety and Health

Abstract Nanotechnology is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world. It is estimated that, by 2015, the industry will employ 2 million workers worldwide. At present, an increasing number of workers are potentially being exposed to nanomaterials in research laboratories, start-up companies and production facilities, and wherever nanomaterials are processed, used, disposed off or recycled. Many researchers and students are also being exposed to nanomaterials in academic laboratories. While recognising the potential benefits that nanotechnology has to offer, the challenge is to determine whether engineered nanostructured materials and devices present new occupational safety and health risks and, if they do, to proactively minimise them. The bigger challenge is to assess whether existing occupational safety and health rules and regulations will be able to address the potential risks of nanotechnology.

Effect of diffuse radiation on the performance of a rotationally asymmetrical optical concentrator

This paper evaluates the performance of a recently patented rotationally asymmetrical dielectric totally internally reflective concentrator (RADTIRC) under diffuse radiation. The RADTIRC has a geometrical concentration gain of 4.969 and two half acceptance angles of ± 30° and ± 40° along the x-axis and z-axis respectively. Simulation and experimental work have been carried out to determine the optical concentration gain under diffuse radiation. It was found that the RADTIRC has an optical concentration gain of 1.94 under diffuse irradiance. The experimental results for the single concentrator showed an optoelectronic gain of 2.13, giving a difference of 9.8% due to factors such as the presence of direct radiation during experiments, the increase in diffuse radiation due to the reflection from surrounded buildings as well as from the ground reflection.