[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – The little red dot wants a greener energy mix and is taking several steps to achieve it, from an electricity import pilot with Malaysia to sunning more at home and investing in research on emerging low-carbon technologies.
Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing outlined on Monday (October 26) the steps Singapore will take to be a “bright green spark” to the world, a place where ideas and applications can inspire and help create more and higher quality living environments.
As part of its plans, Singapore hopes to harness green energy from the entire region through regional power grids. The basis for this will be established through an electricity import pilot with Malaysia over two years.
“We will start with 100 megawatts of imported electricity over a two-year trial period,” Chan said. This will account for about 1.5 percent of Singapore’s peak electricity demand.
“This (trial) can help us access clean energy from countries in the region and improve our energy resilience. We have been working closely with Malaysia and are grateful for their strong support,” Chan said in his opening remarks at the Singapore International Energy Week. , a weeklong energy conference.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA), an agency under Chan’s ministry, plans to issue a request for proposal by March next year. Electricity imports could start in late 2021, through the existing electricity interconnector between Singapore and Malaysia.
The Straits Times understands that the test could also pave the way for energy imports from other countries.
Reuters reported last November that two Australian billionaires have invested tens of millions of dollars in a project to supply solar power from northern Australia to Singapore via the world’s longest high-voltage undersea cable.
The Republic will also step up its push to harness more of the sun here, aiming to achieve 1.5 gigawatt peak (GWp) of solar deployment by 2025, Chan said.
This will cover about 2% of Singapore’s energy demand in 2025.
This is an acceleration of the solar deployment plan that Chan announced at last year’s conference, which was to have an installed solar capacity of 2 GWp by 2030.
“Solar energy is our most promising renewable energy resource. We need to maximize its role in the energy mix,” Chan said, adding that this can be achieved with the public sector leading the way.
There’s plenty of sunshine in Singapore, but harnessing it to boost the nation comes with obstacles. Lack of space to deploy solar panels and intermittent sunlight due to cloud cover and urban shade are some of the challenges.
Reducing the problem of intermittence requires solar “batteries” or energy storage systems.
To this end, Chan said that the EMA and Keppel Offshore and Marine have jointly awarded a research grant for energy storage systems to a consortium led by technology company Envision Digital.
In the longer term, Singapore could also take advantage of emerging low-carbon technologies such as the use of hydrogen as a fuel or the deployment of carbon capture utilization and storage to “suck” warming carbon dioxide out of the air. the planet.
Such technologies are still relatively nascent, Mr. Chan said, but the government has set aside about $ 49 million to fund low-carbon energy research and benchmark testing efforts in hydrogen capture utilization and storage. and carbon.
Chan said that as an alternative energy disadvantaged country, Singapore has always had to find creative ways to tackle its energy challenges.
But it will be up to the challenge, just as it has done with Covid-19, he added, noting that Singapore International Energy Week is the first large-scale physical event of mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions). since the pandemic began. .
Several safe handling measures have been put in place, he said, noting how all attendees must take rapid antigen tests before they are allowed to participate, and the use of artificial intelligence-based technologies to detect abnormal body temperatures and monitor compliance with the security measures.
“The test of such innovative solutions will distinguish Singapore as the world’s leading destination for safe, reliable and innovative Mice events,” he said.
“I hope our efforts inspire not only our people and businesses, but the world as well. Let us all work together to create the next chapter in our energy story as we redefine ourselves as a bright green spark to the world.”
LISTEN TO PODCAST OF GREEN PULSE
[ad_2]
