Solar shines as Singapore's energy alternative; international collaboration is key

TO build a sustainable energy future, Singapore plans to harness natural gas, solar energy, regional power grids and low-carbon alternatives to transform how energy is produced, transported and used.

Speaking at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2021 global launch event on Wednesday, Richard Lim, chairman of the Energy Market Authority (EMA), said that adopting greener energy sources and changing our lifestyles to reduce energy consumption will be necessary to contribute to the global energy dialogue.

Mr Lim also announced this year's theme, "Advancing the Energy Transition". "We will explore how we can accelerate the transition, in actionable pathways, towards a low-carbon energy future. We'll also focus on the role of innovation in building a more sustainable energy future," he said.

According to Gauri Singh, deputy director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the the pace of energy transition is far from what is needed, in line with the Paris Agreement. Emissions could potentially rise by 27 per cent over the coming three decades, if policies are not fully implemented.

EMA chief executive Ngiam Shih Chun said that in pursuit of sustainability goals, Singapore will be quadrupling its solar deployment by 2025, working towards deploying 1.5 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar by 2025 and at least 2 GWp of solar by 2030, five times that of today.

"This translates to about powering 350,000 households a year, which is about 3 per cent of our total projected energy consumption, by 2030," he said. "Solar remains the most viable renewable energy source for us."

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This builds on the strong growth in the installed capacity of existing solar energy systems, which have grown almost seven times since 2015 - to around 428 MWp as at the last quarter of 2020, which contributes to about 1 per cent of Singapore's electricity demands.

Excess solar energy will also be stored in Energy Storage Systems - which will be deployed, with a target of 200 megawatts beyond 2025 - to mitigate solar output fluctuations and provide a stable source of solar energy.

To tap other renewable energy sources not currently available, such as wind or geothermal energy, Singapore will turn to its network of regional energy partners.

"We're also looking into leveraging regional power grids for cost competitive and clean energy, to help us decarbonise our power grid, and overcome our land constraints," Mr Ngiam said.

Mr Lim said: "Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in terms of energy demand, growing by more than 6 per cent annually in the last twenty years. Therefore, there is greater need for international collaboration to advance the energy transition and create a more sustainable energy future, through initiatives such as increased electrification, regional grids and technology-enabled innovation."