Situated just one degree north of the equator, Singapore enjoys abundant sunshine throughout the year. It is no wonder that solar is the most promising domestic renewable energy source for Singapore. However, the journey to harness solar energy is not without its challenges.

The intermittent nature of solar power could lead to variations in solar energy output, particularly during cloudy days and rainy weather. Such variations impact the stability of our power grid.

An answer to this solar intermittency challenge lies in Energy Storage Systems (ESS).

Jason Chua, a Senior Engineer in the Industry Ecosystem Development Department of Energy Market Authority (EMA), likened the ESS to the portable power bank we normally use to charge mobile devices. “An ESS is built on a larger scale and works the same way,” he said.

“It supports Singapore’s power grid system by storing energy when electricity demand is low and discharging it during periods of high electricity demand.”

ESS also plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of our power grid, especially with the increasing demand for energy and the integration of cleaner energy sources like solar into the power system.

Jason explained, “ESS is a technology that can swiftly act to balance the demand and supply of electricity. It serves as a valuable and flexible resource for our power grid, offering back-up energy supply to address any shortfall that could disrupt power system reliability.”

In 2022, a global energy crunch impacted fuel supplies worldwide, including Singapore. Ensuring the resilience of our power supply became even more critical given our dependence on energy imports.

“About 95% of our electricity relies on imported natural gas. Thus, we had to quickly devise and implement pre-emptive measures. This is where ESS played a pivotal role”, Jason revealed.

EMA, together with Sembcorp Industries and other agencies, worked to get the Sembcorp Energy Storage System up and running in a short period of six months. As Southeast Asia’s largest ESS, it has a maximum storage capacity of 285 megawatt-hours (MWh), capable of meeting the electricity needs of around 24,000 four-room HDB households daily for one day, in a single discharge.