3 parties sign MOU on energy storage systems integration in Singapore

THE Centre for Energy Research and Technology (CERT) of the National University of Singapore's faculty of engineering on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Singapore Institute of Power and Gas (SIPG) and Singapore Test Services (STS) to jointly create platforms and training opportunities for integrating energy storage systems (ESS) into Singapore's power grid.

Grid-level energy storage refers to technologies capable of storing electricity on a large scale within an electrical power grid. Examples include electrochemical batteries and flywheels. In Singapore, these could be used to reduce demand during peak periods, as reserves for frequency regulation, and to support the deployment of intermittent generation sources like solar energy, the three parties said in a joint statement.

To boost local capability for the implementation of grid-scale ESS, the three parties will collaborate to enhance the professional expertise essential for the integration of grid-scale ESS into the power grid of Singapore and will establish a set of product technical standards for grid-scale ESS in the country.

To build up local professional expertise to support ESS integration, CERT will develop continuing education and training courses for R&D into ESS design and architecture; SIPG will provide professional engineering training courses on ESS integration for professionals in the power industry; and STS will provide the relevant test facilities for the courses.

STS will also be the primary anchor on the development of a product technical standard for ESS in Singapore, with CERT providing its technical expertise on ESS designs and testing.

Professor Lee Jim Yang, director of CERT, and head of the chemical & biomolecular engineering department at NUS Engineering, said that the MOU is a "timely initiative", as Singapore steps up its efforts towards energy sustainability.

Bernard Tan, president of the commercial business group at ST Kinetics, the parent company of STS, added that STS has provided its testing and certification services over the years to customers in many industries to meet international technical standards. "We believe that we can contribute our deep experience and expertise to a future set of ESS technical standards that will enable the safe and consistent implementation of ESS in Singapore," he said.