Singapore could potentially include nuclear in energy supply mix: report
NUCLEAR energy may not be completely off the table as Singapore charts its path to decarbonise the power sector to net-zero emissions by 2050.
A report commissioned by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) that was released on Tuesday (Mar 22) highlighted that next-generation technologies such as nuclear energy as well as geothermal energy have the potential to play a part in Singapore's future energy supply mix.
The Energy 2050 Committee report focused on a scenario-based approach for Singapore to steer the energy sector in 2050, depending on the pace of how low-carbon energy technologies such as hydrogen, new geothermal and nuclear technologies advance and are deployed globally, which it deemed "critical uncertainties".
In one of three scenarios painted by the committee, low-carbon hydrogen dominates Singapore's supply mix in 2050, replacing natural gas as the main fuel to power the country. In this scenario too, Singapore is able to start deploying other low-carbon alternatives such as nuclear energy to diversify its supply mix and is well-positioned to scale them up further when they become more commercially competitive.
"With (an) increasing number of countries adopting nuclear energy to decarbonise their economies, Singapore is now ready to assess the viability of nuclear energy for domestic deployment," the report projects.
The city-state's power sector accounts for some 40 per cent of total carbon emissions, and hence plays a significant role in the nation's climate change efforts.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Singapore, led by the EMA, has identified "four switches" - natural gas, solar power, regional power grids and electricity imports, and low-carbon alternatives - in its green energy transition journey. Nuclear energy may emerge as a long-term option under other low-carbon alternatives.
"Newer nuclear power plant designs that are being developed and tested have the potential to be much safer than many of the plants that are in operation today. They are being developed by major countries such as China, France, the USA, and Russia.
"If viable, these safer technologies could provide Singapore with a scalable and carbon-free baseload source of electricity. Nuclear fuel can also be efficiently stockpiled, which would enhance Singapore's energy security," said the report.
However, the report added that more R&D is needed before it can be ascertained if newer nuclear technologies would prove suitable in Singapore.
To reach its goal of net-zero emissions by mid-century, the report has recommended, among others, for the city-state to "pre-position" for new low-carbon supply alternatives.
"Given that Singapore has limited options to decarbonise its power sector, it should actively monitor developments in new supply technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), geothermal, biomethane, nuclear fission small modular reactors (SMRs), and nuclear fusion technologies," it said.
The Energy 2050 Committee report was prepared by a committee tasked with examining Singapore's long-term energy sector trends. It also includes recommendations on how the EMA, the industry regulator, should plan for the country's future energy system and how the city-state can tap economic opportunities arising from the transition.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
