“Envision living shorelines that grow resilient with time, fortified by our native ecosystems and species” Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment.
Among the projects that received PUB grants to develop innovative solutions: Concrete waste recycled into carbon dioxide-storing concrete for seawalls. The CO2 used is captured from emissions by manufacturing, chemical and petroleum companies.
Covering breakwaters with shells which could weaken waves and serve as a new habitat for marine life. If the breakwater is near mangroves, the tree roots can capture more sediments and raise the forest floor, helping it keep up with sea-level rise.
Virtual models to help restore mangroves and seagrass meadows more optimally by understanding how sediments shape these habitats. One model simulates how sediments move within complex root systems, using field data from Rhizophora mangroves in South-east Asia.
Through Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute’s (CFI) projects, more than 90 researchers and students have been trained, growing Singapore’s pool of coastal protection and flood management specialists.
Shell-covered breakwater, CO2-storing concrete among $22m PUB-funded projects to fight rising seas
Shabana Begum Straits Times Published Sep 18, 2025, 02:00 PM
SINGAPORE – Concrete waste is getting a new lease of life, as a local firm and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are recycling it into carbon dioxide-storing concrete for seawalls and other coastal protection measures.
A submerged breakwater covered with shells could also become a reality, with two research institutes and a consultancy firm developing the structure, which could weaken waves and serve as a new habitat for marine life.
These are two of 14 projects involving companies and academics that have received a total of $22 million in a grant from national water agency PUB to develop innovative solutions for tackling rising seas and floods.
Announcing the grant recipients on Sept 18, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan said: “Our R&D investments will shape Singapore’s technical capabilities in coastal protection, developing home-grown expertise within our industry and research community.
“This enables us to develop more innovative and cost-effective solutions that address our distinct coastal challenges... Singapore’s urban space constraints and unique wave conditions mean we cannot simply adopt off-the-shelf solutions.”
She was speaking at the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute’s (CFI) symposium at NUS.
CFI and the new applied research projects are part of a growing pool of sea-level and flood-related research efforts under PUB’s $125 million Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme.
The project involving concrete waste is led by low-carbon concrete leader Pan-United. The waste is processed to become pebble-like aggregates, into which industrial carbon dioxide, or CO2, is injected and converted into a mineral.
The CO2 used is captured and liquefied from emissions by manufacturing, chemical and petroleum companies. One tonne of the aggregates could sequester up to 100kg of CO2.
The resulting novel concrete is 15 per cent lighter than the ordinary kind.
“This tackles two problems at once, by upcycling waste and reducing carbon emissions,” said Pan-United’s chief executive Ken Loh.
“Due to their lightweight property, the aggregates can be used to make lighter but strong concrete for coastal structures, like seawalls.”
The lighter concrete could be a suitable material to top up existing coastal defences like shoreline slopes, raising the height without overloading the original structure.
Pan-United is currently working with NTU to develop prototypes of its novel concrete. The next step will be to embark on a field trial.
The 14 new projects were assessed based on how practical the solutions are in Singapore’s context, and whether they have the potential to be monetised and installed along coastlines in the near term, said PUB.
The projects cover five themes: using waste materials in coastal solutions; smart ways to monitor the health of coastal infrastructure; innovative engineering solutions; better ways to monitor the movement of sediments; and creating a framework to shape future solutions.
The project on the submerged breakwater is led by the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS), which will work with Surbana Jurong and the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute.
Instead of using boulders and concrete, the bund will be formed using soil and marine clay. The sea-facing side of the breakwater will be layered with discarded oyster or mussel shells.
“This shell-covered surface not only helps break waves, but also creates a textured habitat where marine life can settle and thrive,” said Dr Lim Kian Yew, acting director of operations at TCOMS.
Over time, calmer waters behind the bund may encourage sediment to build up naturally, gradually raising the seabed as sea levels rise, he added.
If the bund is submerged near a mangrove habitat, the complex roots of mangroves can capture more sediments and raise the forest floor, helping it keep up with sea-level rise. Mangrove habitats are living coastal defences that could flood more often amid rising seas, and may need such support.
Ms Goh said: “Envision living shorelines that grow resilient with time, fortified by our native ecosystems and species.”
Dr Lim added that the underwater breakwaters are suitable for coastlines with moderate waves, or near beaches where such hidden structures will not mar the landscape.
This three-year project will involve engineering the shell-covered bund, running simulations, testing the structure in the field and studying whether tiny marine animals make homes in the shells.
In her speech, Ms Goh highlighted the need for companies to trial new solutions in the field and establish a track record in the emerging coastal protection sector.
“This is particularly important as we seek to build a robust ecosystem of solutions providers who understand Singapore’s unique challenges and requirements,” she said.
In 2023, CFI was set up to bring together expertise from various universities to strengthen core research in areas such as coastal science, forecasting extreme weather and nature-based solutions.
There are 17 ongoing research projects, and the symposium gave updates on some of them.
A team led by Assistant Professor Pearl Li Yuzhu from the College of Design and Engineering at NUS is building virtual models to help conservationists restore mangroves and seagrass meadows more optimally by understanding how sediments shape these habitats.
One model simulates how sediments move within complex root systems, using field data from Rhizophora mangroves in South-east Asia.
Early findings show that mangroves, especially saplings, are vulnerable to scour, when sediments erode and settle within mangrove roots.
“Commonly, people think mangroves attract sediments, but they can also be eroded by them. If the roots are not deep enough, the trees need to be protected,” said Prof Li.
In another project, Professor Chu Jian from NTU’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is creating tube-like barriers made of natural materials such as plant fibres and soya bean powder.
These barriers will shield beaches from strong waves. Over time, sand and soil can slowly accumulate and raise the shores, turning the beachfront into a natural “sea wall” of sorts.
Prof Chu is now working with Surbana Jurong and engineering firm HSL Constructor to test these barriers. They are looking at Tanah Merah beach – a sandy shore prone to erosion and strong currents – and muddy shores near Yishun dam as possible test sites.
Fieldwork is expected to begin in early 2026. Over the first two years, beams of 100m in length and 50cm in height could line the coastlines of both sites.
Through the 17 projects, CFI has so far trained more than 90 researchers and students to grow Singapore’s pool of coastal protection and flood management specialists.
Underwater robot to inspect seawalls among 14 projects funded for coastal, flood protection
The projects will receive S$22 million in new grants from national water agency PUB to advance coastal protection and flood management efforts.
Eugene Chow, Calvin Yang Channel NewsAsia 19 Sep 2025 05:52PM
SINGAPORE: A robot that can dive beneath the waves to inspect structures such as pillars and seawalls is among 14 projects awarded grants to bolster Singapore’s defences against rising sea levels.
The autonomous underwater vehicle can reduce the need for manual inspections, which are often labour-intensive, unsafe and restrictive in tight spaces.
Using artificial intelligence, it can also link inspection data to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of vulnerable infrastructure.
STRENGTHENING COASTAL PROTECTION
Together, the 14 projects will receive S$22 million (US$17 million) in new grants from national water agency PUB under the Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme's first applied research grant call.
These projects were highlighted at the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) Singapore annual symposium on Thursday (Sep 18), which drew nearly 300 experts and students.
At the event, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan said climate change is bringing unprecedented challenges.
Rising temperatures are causing sea levels to increase and extreme weather events to intensify, stressed Ms Goh.
Singapore’s mean sea levels is projected to rise by up to 1.15m by 2100, significantly raising the risk of floods.
“As a low-lying and densely-built island nation surrounded entirely by sea, coastal protection is not just important – it is existential to our country,” she added.
“Coastal protection matters because it protects our lives, our livelihoods and our valuable assets.”
In her speech, Ms Goh noted that research and development investments, therefore, “play a critical role” in building Singapore’s capabilities in coastal resilience.
“Looking ahead, I see a Singapore where our coastal protection measures are not just there to defend, but also to enhance our living environment,” she added.
She said adaptive and sustainable coastal infrastructure could also double up as recreational spaces and green areas, complemented by living shorelines that become more resilient over time through Singapore’s native ecosystems and species.
Living shorelines are erosion control methods that use natural materials such as plants or rocks.
FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
The newly-awarded projects will last for about three years, with funding provided throughout the course of the projects.
The team behind the underwater robot, already used globally, will adapt it for Singapore’s waters using the new funding.
“This vehicle is already very advanced, and it's equipped with cameras and sonar, which are the ears and eyes, to observe the structures from a distance,” said Assistant Professor Geng Guoqing from the National University of Singapore’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
“But in order for us to understand the condition or the further degradation process of (underwater structure) material, this equipment must be able to touch it,” he added.
“That's why we want to add hands and arms to the vehicle, (so that it) is able to measure the infrastructure with close-contact touch.”
Dr Geng, the team's principal investigator, noted that with this automated tool, it will be possible to carry out inspections reliably across different weather and seawater conditions ”to efficiently measure the properties or the health conditions of our infrastructures”.
Meanwhile, there are ongoing projects under CFI Singapore.
One involves filling tubes made out of natural fibres with industrial waste to form barriers that prevent shore erosion, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to concrete seawalls.
“When sea levels rise, some of the beach areas will be submerged underwater – this will cause greater erosion of the coastal areas,” said Professor Chu Jian, chair of Nanyang Technological University’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and principal investigator of the project.
“To prevent coastal erosion, and at the same time to allow the beach to elevate a little bit, we can put a barrier in to allow soil to accumulate,” he added.
CFI Singapore 2nd Annual Symposium - Ms Goh Hanyan
MSE website 18 September 2025
Transcript of speech by Ms Goh Hanyan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment, at the CFI Singapore 2nd Annual Symposium on 18 September 2025.
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
A very good morning to all of you. I thank CFI Singapore for bringing us together at today’s symposium as we celebrate your second anniversary.
Our Coastal Protection Imperative
Climate change is reshaping our world, bringing unprecedented challenges.
Warming temperatures cause sea levels to rise and extreme weather events to intensify.
For Singapore, our projections suggest mean sea levels could rise by up to 1.15 metre by 2100. This significantly increasing our flood risks.
As a low-lying, densely built island nation with limited land surrounded entirely by sea, coastal protection is not just important - it is existential. Without coastal protection, rising sea levels may encroach on our land, and every square metre of Singapore’s precious land matters. Coastal protection matters because it protects our lives, livelihoods and valuable assets.
Research and Development Underpin our Coastal Protection Strategy
Research and development play a critical role in building our capacity to address these challenges.
Through the Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme, or CFRP for short, we are investing in new and innovative solutions tailored to Singapore’s coastal challenges.
For example, studies into coastal hydrodynamics will inform how shorelines will be affected by changes in sea levels. This provides essential data for our flood model and guides the design of more effective protection measures.
On the other hand, research in hybrid green-grey solutions, supports our efforts to integrate ecological functions with engineered systems. This approach helps us design and build coastal protection in a manner that is sensitive to the environment.
These insights are not just academic – they directly inform our planning decisions, engineering designs and long-term policy development.
To drive this important work forward, the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute Singapore, or CFI Singapore for short, serves to promote inter-university collaboration.
It brings together experts from diverse disciplines – from environmental science and engineering, to urban planning and marine biology. This collaborative approach harnesses the unique strengths and expertise of our universities. It also fosters co-development of solutions that are technically sound and holistically designed to address Singapore's coastal challenges.
I am heartened to hear that since its launch in 2023, the Institute and its partners have embarked on 17 research projects, spanning across coastal modelling and forecasting, to innovative engineering and hybrid solutions.
The Institute has trained over 90 researchers and students, nurturing the next generation of coastal protection specialists who will contribute to defending our coasts.
To bridge research and practical application, PUB launched its inaugural Applied Research grant call at the Singapore International Water Week last year. Since then, we have made good progress.
Today, I am pleased to announce that PUB has awarded over S$22 million to 14 promising projects. The grant call attracted 47 proposals, with two-thirds of them involving collaboration between Institutes of Higher Learning and industry players.
These solutions include coastal protection measures that utilise sustainable materials like recycled construction waste, and the development of monitoring technologies for coastal protection structures.
Let me share with you two interesting examples:
The first project addresses a fundamental challenge in effectively monitoring our coastal structures as they age. Current structural health monitoring depends on extremely manual processes which are resource-intensive and constrained by accessibility and safety issues.
NUS is partnering with BeeX, a homegrown SME and Delta Marine Consultants to revolutionise this process. This project builds on BeeX’s autonomous underwater inspection capabilities through their past projects with JTC and EMA. The project team aims to combine autonomous robots with underwater Non-Destructive Testing techniques, thereby yielding more accurate and efficient underwater structural inspections. This enables better protection of coastal defences while optimising resources and enhancing worker safety.
The second project exemplifies our push towards sustainability in coastal protection. Led by Pan-United Concrete, an industry leader in sustainable concrete technologies and in partnership with NTU, this project uses carbon capture technology to transform local concrete waste into lightweight aggregate.
The resulting concrete is 15% lighter, which can be used to retrofit existing coastal protection measures. This facilitates adaptive planning by allowing concrete structures to be built incrementally in tandem with sea level rise. This innovative approach, which recycles local concrete waste and captures carbon dioxide, demonstrates how we can effectively enhance coastal resilience while furthering our resource circularity and climate goals.
In addition to these research activities, PUB has also established the CFRP Living Lab initiative.
This is an opportunity for us to test promising solutions under real-world conditions, to understand whether they are both technically feasible and cost-effective.
Singapore’s urban space constraints and unique wave conditions mean we cannot simply adopt off-the-shelf solutions. The Living Lab allows us to move beyond laboratory limitations, addressing complex challenges of scaling up technologies through actual deployment along our coasts.
Also, the initiative provides a vital platform for innovative companies to pilot their technologies and establish track record in the emerging coastal protection sector. This is particularly important as we seek to build a robust ecosystem of solutions providers who understand Singapore's unique challenges and requirements.
We are currently scoping the Living Lab projects and hope to commence soon.
Collectively, our R&D investments will shape Singapore’s technical capabilities in coastal protection, developing homegrown expertise within our industry and research community. This enables us to develop more innovative and cost-effective solutions that address our distinct coastal challenges and serve our long-term resilience needs.
Closing
Looking ahead, I see a Singapore where our coastal protection measures do not just defend but also enhance our living environment.
Imagine adaptive, sustainable coastal infrastructures that provide recreational areas and green spaces.
Envision living shorelines that grow more resilient with time, fortified by native ecosystems and species.
To our young researchers and aspiring scientists in the audience – this is where you come in.
The challenges we face in coastal protection offer exciting opportunities to make a real difference.
Together, we can enable current and future generations of Singaporeans to continue to enjoy our new coastal spaces with confidence that we are adequately protected from the threats of sea level rise.
I look forward to learning more from the project teams at the booths later, and I encourage you to exchange ideas and explore collaborative partnerships at this symposium. Thank you.