S’pore eyes ‘renewable fuel’, new nuclear ties in drive for diverse energy mix: Tan See Leng

(Photo credit: ST Photo/Lim Yaohui)

Source: The Straits Times

Singapore must be ready to support all promising pathways, from established technologies to novel options, in its bid to transition its fossil fuel-based energy sector to one that is clean yet affordable, said Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng on Oct 27.

To achieve this, the country will be exploring the use of biomethane, touted as “renewable fuel”, to reduce emissions from its power sector, and learning more about nuclear energy from the best minds in the field by inking new partnerships, he said at the opening of the Singapore International Energy Week, an annual energy conference.

The country is already moving to tap as much solar power as it can domestically, and is also working with neighbours to see if renewable energy projects abroad can supply electricity here, Dr Tan said at the event held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

But since the Republic is alternative-energy disadvantaged, it also has to study emerging technologies such as nuclear and carbon capture, if it is to find the “right balance” between climate concerns, energy security and cost-competitiveness, Dr Tan added.

“We must pursue a diversified portfolio of sustainable energy pathways to build the future we envision,” he said. “It is unlikely that any single solution will suffice, just as there is no one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonisation.”

Currently, Singapore relies on natural gas, a type of fossil fuel, for 95 per cent of its electricity generation. The Republic’s power sector contributes 40 per cent of national emissions, as the burning of natural gas releases planet-warming emissions.

To reduce this, Singapore will be exploring biomethane as a low-carbon fuel, Dr Tan said.

Biomethane is also known as renewable gas, and is chemically identical to fossil-derived methane – the main component of natural gas.

According to the International Energy Agency, biomethane is produced mainly through upgrading biogas from organic waste in a process that removes carbon dioxide and other contaminants. Organic waste can come from sources such as the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, natural gas is pumped from deposits underground or beneath the sea floor and consists mainly of methane.

Unlike natural gas, biomethane is considered to have a lower carbon footprint because the carbon it produces when burned is part of a natural carbon cycle that would have been released into the atmosphere anyway through the process of decomposition.

If fossil-derived gas is used, new carbon is considered to have been “added” to the atmosphere.

Dr Tan announced that Singapore is establishing a regulatory sandbox of up to 300MW to catalyse biomethane supply chain development and facilitate adoption by key industry players. A capacity of 300MW can supply the energy needs of around 600,000 HDB households.

A regulatory sandbox is a controlled environment where firms can test new innovations under the supervision of a regulator.

The Republic had previously said it expects natural gas to continue to meet more than 50 per cent of its energy needs by 2035, as it could take time for the other energy options being explored to become viable.

A key advantage of using biomethane is that such a fuel can be used within the existing natural gas infrastructure without costly retrofits. Using hydrogen or ammonia would require existing plants to be upgraded.

Biomethane is already used for power generation in regions like Europe.

This is the latest of such fuels that Singapore is looking into.

The Republic has already been doing research into other low-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia. These fuels produce less greenhouse gas emissions when burned compared with natural gas.

Nuclear is another new area that Singapore is “seriously studying”, Dr Tan said, with the country especially interested in newer technologies such as small modular reactors.

To further strengthen its capabilities in studying nuclear energy, Dr Tan announced that the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will be signing new cooperation agreements with two US organisations, non-profit research group Battelle Memorial Institute and Idaho National Laboratory.

They build on existing nuclear agreements with the US, including the 123 Agreement on Nuclear Cooperation – first signed between the two countries in July 2024 – which allows Singapore to learn more about the latest nuclear technologies and scientific research from American organisations.

In September, Singapore was also added to a list by the US that allows better access to critical technical information on US nuclear energy technologies, he said.

Dr Tan added: “We understand that the public has many questions about our plans. We will engage the public regularly as we progress on this journey together.”

For a start, the Government on Oct 27 released a background paper on Singapore’s nuclear energy capability-building journey to provide the public with an overview of the country’s interests, and the Government’s work on capability building thus far, Dr Tan said.

The paper, which highlights issues such as reasons for considering nuclear and its safety aspects, will help contextualise Singapore’s efforts within regional and global decarbonisation and nuclear energy developments.

The Straits Times reported on Oct 20 that EMA and the National Environment Agency have formed dedicated nuclear teams, as part of a governmental reorganisation first mentioned by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in February.

Dr Tan, who is also Minister for Manpower, said these teams will lead the effort, adding: “I hear they are hiring.”

He added that recent workforce projections from the biennial Energy Sector Manpower Survey indicated that Singapore’s clean energy workforce would expand by about 60 per cent, or about 1,000 workers, by 2034.

This growth is driven by demand in areas such as energy storage and electricity imports, Dr Tan said.

Even the traditionally fossil fuel-reliant Jurong Island – home to over 100 global energy and chemical companies – will continue to diversify and drive growth in a low-carbon fashion, Dr Tan noted.

Stressing the need to decarbonise as climate change continues to accelerate, he said: “Decarbonisation will come with costs, but let me reiterate, it cannot and will not be at all costs.

“We will continue to strike the right balance between sustainability, security and cost-competitiveness.”