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EMA works closely with the industry and other government agencies to maximise solar deployment and mitigate challenges faced in harnessing solar energy.
Overview
Solar energy is harnessed from the sun's radiation and is converted to electrical energy to power electrical appliances. This is made possible using photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Located near the equator, Singapore is one of the most solar-dense cities in the world. We enjoy relatively high solar irradiance of an average annual solar irradiance of 1,580 kWh/m2/year. Real-time information on solar energy generated can be seen under the Solar Irradiance Map. This makes Singapore an ideal location to tap on solar energy as a clean energy source to generate electricity.
As part of our national solar efforts, Singapore targets to deploy:
- 1.5 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar energy by 2025 and;
- At least 2 GWp by 2030, equivalent to meeting the annual electricity needs of around 350,000 households.
In the longer term, solar will allow us to meet about 10% of our projected electricity demand in 2050.
Please visit the Statistics section for the latest information on the (i) number of solar installations and (ii) installed solar capacity in Singapore.
Benefits
- Cost Savings: Using solar energy can help consumers save costs since it is generally comparable to or cheaper than grid electricity. Consumers can also sell excess solar-generated electricity to the grid to offset their energy costs or even earn revenue.
- Environmental Sustainability: Solar, as an energy source, generates no carbon emissions, contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. This helps in creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
- Enhanced Energy Security: Harnessing solar energy domestically reduces our reliance on importing other energy sources, lowering supply chain risks and enhancing our energy resilience.
- Price Stability: With solar output typically coinciding with periods of high energy usage, it can help lower peak demand and allow electricity prices to become more stable.
Driving Solar Deployment
EMA collaborates with other government agencies and the industry to maximise solar deployment.
- SolarRoof and SolarNova programmes are Whole-of-Government efforts to aggregate demand for solar PV systems across government agencies. This includes installing the systems on the rooftops of HDB flats and public sector buildings.
Under the SolarNova programme, HDB has so far committed a total solar capacity of 455 MWp across its estates, which is equivalent to powering about 114,000 four-room flats.
- With 122,000 solar panels spanning across a land area of about 45 football fields, the 60 megawatt-peak (MWp) Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm is one of the world’s largest inland floating solar PV systems.
- Floating solar PV systems could also be found at offshore spaces, such as EDP Renewable's 5 MWp solar farm at Woodlands. The solar farm is expected to produce estimated 6,022,500 kilo-watt hours (kWh) of energy per year.
- The SolarLand programme by JTC involves installing modular solar PV systems on temporary vacant land. These solar PV systems can be found in areas such as Jurong Island and at Changi Business Park.
A solar PV system installed on temporary ground at the National Day Parade 2023.
- Building Integrated Solar Photovoltaic (BIPV) refers to the seamless integration of solar PV systems into the design of buildings such as roofs, facades, and windows. They offer a sustainable and visually appealing solution for clean energy generation in buildings.
One of the novel ways of installing solar photovoltaic systems is on the facade of buildings, such as the installation at Dulwich College’s net-zero Greenhouse building. (Left photo courtesy of Dulwich College (Singapore) and DP Architects; Right photo is EMA’s)
Future Enhancements
Explore upcoming enhancements and initiatives to facilitate solar deployment and address industry needs.
- Solar is an Intermittent Generation Source (IGS) as its power output fluctuates depending on weather and environmental factors. This imposes additional requirements on our grid to ensure system reliability.
- EMA is deferring the implementation of IPM, and intends to consult the industry on the enhanced IPM in due course.
- EMA is actively addressing constraints faced by owners or landlords with buildings under a master-sub scheme, such as exploring options to allows buildings under a master-sub setup to sell excess solar generated to the grid.
- Currently, there are physical workaround solutions (e.g. to connect solar PV systems directly to a substation or connect a solar PV’s main switchboard to consumer’s main switchboard before connecting to the grid), which may be feasible for some buildings. Please refer to SP Group’s terms and conditions for such solutions.
- This refers to a streamlined administrative process that allows third parties, nominated on behalf of their consumers, to receive consolidated payments and metering data from SP Group directly for energy exports from solar and embedded generation.
- This arrangement allows consumers to appoint different solar leasing companies to deploy multiple solar PV installations at their sites.
- The current system design of SP Group’s billing system only permits payments to a single leasing company. However, if enhancements can be implemented, consumers will have the flexibility to engage multiple lessors. This will enable them to explore different technology options on their sites; and/or lease them from different entities.
Overcoming Intermittency
As with any intermittent energy source, tapping on solar comes with its own set of challenges.
With limited land space, we have to carefully consider the land to be set aside for solar installations versus other competing uses like recreational activities on reservoirs.
Factors such as sunlight intensity, cloud cover and shade could affect the output of solar. As the share of solar in our energy mix increases, fluctuations in solar output could affect the stability of the power grid.
Mitigating solar intermittency is essential for several reasons:
- A stable and reliable electricity supply is vital for meeting the energy demands of homes, businesses, and industries. Fluctuations in solar output can disrupt the balance between electricity supply and demand, causing disruptions and grid instability.
- Smoothing out solar power’s intermittency enhances grid stability as it minimises voltage fluctuations, frequency deviations and improves overall power quality.
- Reducing solar generation variability is vital for integrating renewable energy sources effectively. It enables better integration with other energy sources to create a more reliable and diverse energy mix.
Following an award of a S$6.2 million research grant to a consortium led by the National University of Singapore, EMA has implemented a Solar Forecasting Model as part of the enhanced Energy Management System that can anticipate solar power output in advance and proactively addressing solar intermittency.
In addition to the model, we are also using technologies like Energy Storage Systems to manage solar intermittency.
An irradiance measurement instrument installed on building rooftops (Photo courtesy of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore, SERIS)