Question No 437 of Notice Paper No 289 of 2007
Dr Lam Pin Min, Member for Ang Mo Kio GRC.
Question
To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the current extent of energy
supply from solar energy technology; and (b) whether there are long
term plans to tap on this alternative source of energy, in view of
the high oil prices and finite supply of oil and natural
gases.
Answer
The use of solar energy in Singapore is still very limited. Our total installed capacity for
generating solar energy is currently only 0.15 MW, compared with
our peak electricity demand of more than 5,000 MW. Even buildings
with installations for tapping solar energy cannot meet their own
needs from solar energy generated, and they have to tap electricity
from the grid.
This situation is not unique to Singapore. The use of solar energy is still in its infancy in most
parts of the world.According to the International Energy Agency
(IEA), renewables such as geothermal, wind, solar and other
combustible waste accounted for only 2 % of global electricity
generated in 2004. Solar photovoltaics (PV) alone accounted for
just 0.005 %.
The main reason is cost. Current technologies for tapping
solar energy are still not efficient. Solar-derived electricity is
thus two to three times more expensive than our electricity tariffs
for households.While costs will decline with the advent of better
technology, fossil fuels such as oil and gas will still remain a
dominant part of the global fuel mix in the medium
term.Singapore is no exception.
Nonetheless, our energy strategy is to continue to
diversify our energy sources and invest in research and development
in clean energy, including solar energy.To facilitate new energy
technologies such as solar, we have adopted open and flexible
regulations, such as removing the market participation fee for all
facilities that are paid for export to the grid. EMA has also put
out information on how to install and connect photovoltaic systems
to the grid. The National Research Foundation has set aside $170
million for research into clean energy, with a focus on solar
energy. EDB has launched a $17 million Clean Energy Research and
Test-bedding platform to test-bed solar photovoltaics, and to
determine the optimal solar energy systems for Singapore.