Energy definition

"energy is the ability to do work" is the standard definition used in many physics and engineering textbooks.

A more precise statement is:

Energy is the ability (or capacity) to do work.

The reason I said "capacity to do work or cause change" is that many modern physics texts broaden the definition because energy also drives processes that don't neatly fit the classical definition of mechanical work (e.g., heating, radiation, chemical reactions, phase changes). However, for engineering and introductory physics, the classical definition is preferred.

For example:

• Physics/Engineering definition:
  Energy is the ability (capacity) to do work.

• Work definition:
  Work is done when a force causes an object to move through a distance in the direction of the force.

• SI unit:
  Both energy and work are measured in joules (J).

List of Act for Energy Manager Course

The 5-Day Energy Manager Training Course conducted by IEM Training Academy Sdn Bhd (formerly IEM Training Centre Sdn Bhd) is designed to prepare participants for registration as a Registered Energy Manager (REM) with the Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga). The legal content has evolved from the earlier REEM/EMEER 2008 framework to the current EECA 2024 framework. (IEM TRAINING ACADEMY SDN BHD)

Below are the major Malaysian Acts, Regulations, Standards and Guidelines typically covered.

Legislation / Standard	Purpose	Importance for Energy Manager
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2024 (EECA 2024)	Main legislation governing energy efficiency	Primary Act governing REM duties and designated installations. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Regulations	Regulations made under EECA	Registration of REMs, obligations, reporting and compliance. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)
Energy Commission Act 2001 (Act 610)	Establishes Suruhanjaya Tenaga	Powers and enforcement of the Energy Commission. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)
Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 447)	Regulates electricity supply and installations	Electrical safety, licensing and legal responsibilities. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)
Electricity Regulations 1994	Technical requirements for electrical installations	Competent persons, maintenance and safe operation. (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)
Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 (EMEER 2008)	Previous energy management regulation	Historical basis of REEM before EECA implementation. (My IEM)

Malaysian Standards covered

• MS ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems

• MS ISO 50002 – Energy Audits

• MS ISO 50006 – Energy Performance Indicators (EnPI)

• MS ISO 50015 – Measurement & Verification

• MS ISO 50003 (Energy management system certification)

• MS IEC 60364 (Low-voltage electrical installations – selected requirements)

• Energy-efficient Malaysian Standards for lighting, motors, transformers and HVAC systems. 

Energy Commission Guidelines

The course also introduces several Energy Commission guidance documents, including:

• Guide on Energy Management System

• Guide for Energy Audit

• Guide for Registered Energy Manager (REM)

• Guide for Designated Installations

• Energy reporting procedures

• Measurement & Verification (M&V)

• Energy Performance Indicators (EnPI)

• Energy baseline development

• Monitoring, Targeting and Reporting (M&T). (Suruhanjaya Tenaga)

National Policies and Roadmaps

Participants are normally introduced to:

• National Energy Policy

• National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR)

• National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP)

• Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap (MyRER)

• National Green Technology Policy

• National Climate Change Policy. 

Other Acts commonly referenced

Although not the main focus, Energy Managers should understand how these laws interact with energy projects:

• Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) (and amendments)

• Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139) (where still applicable)

• Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127)

• Sustainable Energy Development Authority Act 2011 (Act 726)

• Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 725)

These become important when implementing boiler upgrades, motor replacements, compressed air improvements, solar PV systems, or process modifications.

Technical topics linked to the legislation

According to the IEM course outline, the five-day programme also covers:

• Duties and responsibilities of a Registered Energy Manager

• Malaysian energy policies and governance

• Electrical energy management

• Mechanical energy management

• HVAC systems

• Pumps and fans

• Compressed air systems

• Boilers and steam systems

• Renewable energy

• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

• Energy monitoring and data logging

• Energy audits

• ISO 50001 implementation

• Financial evaluation (NPV, IRR, Payback)

• Management review

• Online examination and competency assessment. 

Given your experience in palm oil mills, refineries, solvent extraction plants, and boiler systems, the legislation and technical subjects most relevant to your work are:

1. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2024 (EECA)

2. Electricity Supply Act 1990

3. Electricity Regulations 1994

4. Energy Commission Act 2001

5. MS ISO 50001 Energy Management System

6. Boiler and steam system energy efficiency

7. Motor, pump and fan optimization

8. Compressed air systems

9. Process heating and heat recovery

10. Energy audits and Measurement & Verification (M&V)

Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 - 21,600 Gigajoules & 8,000 m2 requirements

Under the Efficient Management of Electrical Energy Regulations 2008 (Malaysia), a building or installation may be classified as a designated installation if it meets certain energy consumption thresholds.

The figures you mentioned are:

• Annual energy consumption: 21,600 GJ (Gigajoules)

• Gross floor area: 8,000 m²

These are criteria used to determine whether a building must appoint a Registered Electrical Energy Manager (REEM) and comply with energy management requirements.

1. What does 21,600 GJ mean?

21,600 GJ is the total electrical energy consumed in one year.

To better understand this figure:

• 1 GJ = 277.78 kWh

Therefore,

21,600 GJ × 277.78 = approximately 6,000,000 kWh/year

or

• 6 GWh/year

• 6,000 MWh/year

This is equivalent to:

• 500,000 kWh/month

• 16,400 kWh/day

• Average electrical demand ≈ 685 kW continuously throughout the year

Typical facilities consuming around 6 GWh/year

Examples include:

• Large office complexes

• Hospitals

• Universities

• Shopping malls

• Large hotels

• Manufacturing plants

• Palm oil refineries

• Solvent extraction plants

---

2. What does 8,000 m² mean?

This refers to the gross floor area (GFA) of a building.

An 8,000 m² building could typically be:

• 8-storey office building with 1,000 m² per floor

• Shopping mall

• Hospital

• University faculty building

• Large hotel

The floor area criterion is mainly intended for commercial buildings where energy use is closely related to building services such as:

• Air conditioning

• Lighting

• Lifts and escalators

• Chilled water systems

• Ventilation

---

3. Why are these thresholds important?

If a building exceeds either threshold (subject to the applicable regulations in force), the owner is generally required to:

• Appoint a Registered Electrical Energy Manager (REEM).

• Monitor and analyse electricity consumption.

• Implement energy-saving measures.

• Maintain energy records.

• Submit reports to the relevant authority when required.

• Conduct periodic energy assessments or audits as prescribed.

The objective is to reduce:

• Electricity wastage

• Operating costs

• Carbon emissions

• Peak electricity demand

---

4. Example Calculation

Suppose an office building has:

• Gross Floor Area = 10,000 m²

• Annual electricity consumption = 4,800,000 kWh

Convert to GJ:

4,800,000 × 0.0036 = 17,280 GJ

Result:

• Floor area exceeds 8,000 m² ✔

• Energy consumption is below 21,600 GJ ✘

Depending on the specific regulatory requirements applicable, the building may still fall within the scope because of its floor area.

---

5. Industrial Example

A palm oil refinery operates:

• Average demand = 1 MW

• Operating hours = 24 hours/day

• Annual energy:

1 MW × 8,760 hours = 8,760 MWh/year

= 8,760,000 kWh/year

= 31,536 GJ/year

This exceeds 21,600 GJ/year, meaning the facility would generally fall within the designated threshold based on energy consumption.

---

Summary

Criterion	Threshold	Equivalent
Annual energy consumption	21,600 GJ/year	6,000,000 kWh/year (6 GWh/year)
Gross floor area	8,000 m²	Large commercial/institutional building
Average electrical demand equivalent	≈685 kW	Continuous average over one year