Malaysia's verdant, river-crossed state of Sarawak is charging ahead with plans to become a regional "green battery," but its renewable energy dreams could come at serious environmental cost, experts warn.

Wedged between peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, Sarawak's leadership believes it could become a keystone in a regional energy transition.

Its many rivers and streams offer potentially abundant hydro-electricity and could one day power production of green hydrogen.

It is also installing solar and touting biomass to grow its renewable capacity, with Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg telling investors in Europe last week the state is "committed to a low-carbon and sustainable energy future".

But environmental groups warn much of this green energy infrastructur

See Full Page