Batang Al is a 108 MW hydro power station in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is operated by Sarawak Energy Bhd [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 108k homes (estimated). It ranks #58 of 82 Malaysia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1985, it is around 41 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 17.5% of Malaysia's electricity; the national grid averages 602 gCO₂/kWh (20.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1000280.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000602437; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 108 MW, Batang Al is below the median hydro plant in Malaysia (120 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Malaysia hydro capacity
- 5.3% of 2,040 MW across 9 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 4 of 9 dated hydro plants in Malaysia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Malaysia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Sarawak Energy Bhd [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 1.1°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #6 largest hydro power plant of 9 in Malaysia by capacity.
Malaysia has 9 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 2,040 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Unnamed Malaysia coal projects · Coal · 2,800 MW · Sarawak
- Kalbar sewa power station · Gas · 105 MW · West Kalimantan
- Kalbar-1 gas power station · Gas · 250 MW · West Kalimantan
- Merit Pila power station · Coal · 300 MW · Sarawak
Location
Coordinates 1.1472, 111.8743 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Batang Al?
Batang Al is a 108 MW hydro power plant in Sarawak, Malaysia, commissioned in 1985.
Who operates Batang Al?
Batang Al is operated by Sarawak Energy Bhd [100%].