Singapore looks to build first-of-its-kind renewable energy farm in waters around Raffles Lighthouse
The energy generated could be used to charge electric harbour craft, in line with upcoming requirements to decarbonise the maritime industry.
Jeraldine Yap and Louisa Tang Channel NewsAsia 9 Aug 2024
SINGAPORE: A renewable energy farm could be built in the waters around Raffles Lighthouse, with a feasibility study expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) told CNA that it has earmarked 30ha around the island and is looking into installing solar panels above the sea surface and tidal turbines underwater.
Observers said it would be the first facility in Singapore to combine harnessing energy from the sun as well as tides on a large scale.
The total energy generated in a year could power the equivalent of 1,000 four-room Housing Board flats, said an expert.
It would likely be used to charge electric harbour craft, in line with upcoming requirements to decarbonise the maritime industry.
From 2030, new harbour craft in the country must be fully electric, be able to use cleaner biofuels or be compatible with net-zero fuels such as hydrogen.
This comes amid a push for all harbour craft and pleasure craft to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as part of the national climate ambition.
MPA initiated a tender on Jul 24 for the feasibility study of a maritime floating solar and tidal farm. The study will assess the environmental impacts of the farm and guide the development of measures to mitigate any potential issues.
According to tender documents, the statutory board is looking for concepts that support energy storage and the charging of electric harbour craft.
The farm’s energy generation potential will be dependent on the conceptual design, which will be developed through the study, added MPA.
It said that insights gained from a proof-of-value project it launched in May 2023 would help in the study.
The project was in collaboration with Bluenergy Solutions to harness hydrokinetic energy off the island of Pulau Satumu, as an alternative to transporting diesel for power generation for facilities supporting Raffles Lighthouse.
SINGAPORE CAN BECOME R&D HUB
Dr Narasimalu Srikanth, director of the renewables and low-carbon generation programme at Nanyang Technological University’s Energy Research Institute, noted that charging points for electric harbour craft are already being planned for mainland Singapore.
In April, MPA launched its first pilot trial for one such charging point at Marina South Pier.
Dr Srikanth said: “Such charging points, when they are brought to the islands … (they) will give a lot of flexibility to electric charging boats, and better adoption by the value chain of the maritime industry will happen.”
This will serve as a “very good model” for other Southeast Asians countries and allow Singapore to be the research and development hub, he added.
“ASEAN countries (have) around 25,000 islands. All are, today, diesel powered. Think about the carbon emission and the energy footprint,” Dr Sriknath said.
He added that by tapping renewable energy, much of the carbon emissions can be eliminated.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Experts said noise from underwater turbines could affect marine animals like dolphins and turtles, which have been spotted in the waters around Pulau Satumu, where Raffles Lighthouse is located.
The area is also known for its pristine coral reefs.
Dr Toh Tai Chong, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore’s Reef Ecology Lab, also questioned whether higher levels of boat traffic would disrupt water flow around the area.
“Even the structures that we install, will (they) change the hydrodynamics? Because this has implications on the coral larvae that arrive at Raffles Lighthouse,” he noted.
The lighthouse is a “sink site”, which means coral larvae that emerge from various reefs around Singapore and the southern waters tend to stay around the lighthouse and establish themselves.
This explains the high diversity of corals and existence of rare species not often found in other parts of the country, Dr Toh said.
“Even though the direct impact might be very minimal, such indirect impact can continue to impact the area for a longer time, beyond the construction phase,” he added.
He also said solar panels can reduce the amount of light penetrating the sea surface, which could pose some stress to corals as they are dependent on light.
Coral reefs are also important food sources for larger animals, as well as a refuge for smaller organisms.
“For turtles, they tend to have certain fixed patterns of migratory routes and also to lay eggs, so this has to be considered. More research has to be done in this particular area to identify these possible routes of migration,” added Dr Toh.
MPA to explore feasibility of S'pore's 1st floating solar & tidal farm around Raffles Lighthouse waters
An environmental impact assessment will be conducted before implementation.
Natalie Ong Mothership 26 Aug 2024
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is currently exploring the feasibility of Singapore's first maritime floating solar and tidal (MFST) farm surrounding offshore island Pulau Satumu.
An area of approximately 30 hectares has been identified as a suitable location to study the feasibility for large-scale generation of renewable energy such as solar and tidal energy, a spokesperson from MPA shared with Mothership.
A feasibility study, which includes an environmental impact assessment (EIA), is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2024, MPA added.
The conceptual design of the solar-tidal contraption will also be developed through the study.
Part of maritime decarbonisation efforts
This move is in line with MPA’s ongoing efforts to explore and harness renewable energy sources to support maritime decarbonisation efforts, with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
In May 2023, MPA launched a Proof of Value (POV) project in collaboration with Bluenergy Solutions to harness hydrokinetic energy off Pulau Satumu, as an alternative to the transport of diesel to generate power for facilities supporting Raffles Lighthouse.
For a period of six months, the project's underwater turbines supplied power for the non-operational electrical needs of Raffles Lighthouse, such as its living quarter, CNA previously reported.
While the feasibility study of the MFST farm is separate from the POV project, the insights gained from the POV project will contribute towards the feasibility study of the MFST farm, MPA shared.
The first dual renewable energy plant contraption
The MFST farm will be unique in its design, for there will be solar panels deployed above the sea surface and tidal turbines installed underwater.
The amount of energy generated by the MFST farm has yet to be confirmed, and is dependent on the conceptual design which will be further developed through the study.
With limited land space in Singapore, this hybrid feature could help to generate more energy with less space used.
Pulau Satumu a "refuge for many marine species"
Pulau Satumu, located approximately 23km southwest of Singapore, is home to the Raffles Lighthouse, guiding ships along the straits of Singapore.
The lighthouse is currently still in operation, but access to this offshore island is restricted and can only be accessed by joining a special tour organised by MPA.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the choice of location for the MFST farm.
Pulau Satumu is a haven for aquatic life, with coral reefs built over millions of years.
The island, alongside Pulau Ubin and Pulau Semakau, had previously been highlighted as an area for "immediate conservation priority" in the Singapore Blue Plan 2018.
The report stated that Pulau Satumu is considered a "source reef for the region" which can contribute to genetic diversity.
"Their protection is urgent as there are signs ship grounding have destroyed portions of these reefs," the report wrote.
When asked what potential risks Pulau Satumu would face if development were to proceed, Associate Professor from the National University of Singapore Huang Danwei shared that the deployment of such artificial structures on the water's surface could “reduce light and impact coral reef health and biodiversity”, for corals require light for photosynthesis.
“Equipment that is situated too close to the reefs may also cause noise pollution and physically damage corals and other organisms”, he added.
According to Huang, who studies corals, “the coral reef fringing Pulau Satumu is the most diverse in Singapore known to us based on our surveys.”
Huang stated that it also has “amongst the highest coral cover amongst Singapore reefs” and is home to “several generally uncommon species”.
He cited the example of the locally endangered species Acropora spicifera, which was described from Singapore nearly two centuries ago, but is now only recorded at Pulau Satumu.
The coral reef is thus a refuge for many marine species in Singapore, Huang shared.
Considerations for the EIA
In light of the upcoming EIA, Huang emphasised that it “should pay attention to the specific locations of the farm” and suggested selecting sites that are a "safe distance from the natural reef habitat”.
One consideration Huang suggested could be the selection of sites that are “farther away from ecologically sensitive areas that could even allow for [the] expansion of operations with minimal impact to biodiversity”.
"We stand to lose a great deal of biodiversity if the habitats around it are impacted," he concluded.
