According to Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova programme, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), aims to encourage the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore and develop the nation's solar industry. By adopting green construction characteristics, the initiative also plays a crucial part in the HDB Green Towns Programme (GTP), which aims to make HDB towns more sustainable. HDB has set a greater goal in its seventh tender by employing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2030 throughout 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites (Cheah, 2022). This time, the programme will involve six national organisations: Singapore Monetary Authority, Ministry of Education, People's Association, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. Making solar energy a key initiative in the HDB GTP, net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands would be achieved (Tan, 2022, as cited in Housing Development Board, 2022). Solar panel installation would take place gradually in lots, and it would be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. This reduces the usage of fossil fuels when generating electricity.
The webpage also postulated that this initiative promotes and aggregates demand for solar PV among government entities to obtain economies of scale and propel Singapore's solar sector forward. With ASEAN developing as one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets, the region has embarked on several solar power initiatives, including the SolarNova programme in Singapore (EDB, 2022). From my perspective, the economic benefits of this program and some environmental benefits have been overlooked. Highlighting these beneficial elements would have emphasised the results even more and prompted more solar panel installations (Chua, 2015).
The most recent tender will see more solar panels in the heartlands, demonstrating the effectiveness of prior tenders in improving inhabitants' quality of life. As a result, the adoption of solar panels has resulted in economic benefits such as lower power bills. Mr Arun Murthy, who erected 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah, is one such individual. He saved roughly $830 by spending $370 on his electricity expenses. In addition to providing for the home's energy needs, the solar panels generate excess electricity throughout the day that is sold back to Singapore's power grid system, which is run by SP Group and paid for by them (Lee, 2022). This is because solar panels draw energy from a free energy source, the sun. The panels generate electricity and, when connected to electrical wiring, the house uses that electricity instead of the electricity supplied by the utility.
Another positive view on the environmental benefits would be that the use of solar energy is a suitable alternative to fossil fuels. 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from imported natural gas. It's one of the cleanest fossil fuels available-burning natural gas produces half the carbon footprint of coal (Teh, 2021). With that, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact in comparison with fossil fuels and not rely on neighbouring countries for a continuous supply of imported gas. Singapore relies on neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to generate electricity. Due to the steep inflation of LNG (Tan, 2022), solar panels can be seen be increasingly installed islandwide.
With that being said, there are downsides to the SolarNova programme. Despite being geographically located in the tropical region, north of the Equator, cloud cover is an issue. This means that on days when there is high cloud coverage, the amount of solar energy produced lessens. In addition, the constant high temperature reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell (Andrews-Speed, 2021). Also, Singapore is a small country which lacks land in which the use of solar energy can take up huge amounts of land. As such, Singapore does not fully rely on renewable energy such as solar energy.
To summarise, the SolarNova programme is a successful programme, run by EDB and HDB. The programme has allowed Singapore to develop a greater sense of energy independence and security without making even further impacts on the environment. Although the programme has limitations, with some being beyond human control, to say that the programme has been faring well and is on track to achieve its target is accurate.
References
Andrews-Speed, A. (2021, May 4). Commentary: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/solar-energy-singapore-panels-cloudy-unpredictable-electricity-1882996
Cheah, M. (2022, February 25). HDB launches 7th solar tender for 1,290 blocks and 99 government sites. The Business Times. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/hdb-launches-7th-solar-tender-1290-blocks-and-99-government-sites
Cheong, D. (2022, March 16). How has HDB’s SolarNova programme fared, and why it is important? 99.co. https://www.99.co/singapore/insider/solar-nova-hdb/
EDB Singapore. (2022, October 12). ASEAN set to play key role in global solar supply chain. Economic Development Board Singapore. https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/business-insights/insights/asean-set-to-play-key-role-in-global-solar-supply-chain.html
Eigen Energy. (2022, April 19). How reliable are Solar Panels in Singapore. Eigen Energy. https://www.eigen.energy/articles/solar-reliability-in-singapore
Housing Development Board(2022, February 25). HDB to Bring Solar Energy to Over 8,000 Blocks through SolarNova Programme. Housing Development Board. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/news-and-publications/press-releases/HDB-to-bring-solar-energy
Housing Development Board (n.d.). SolarNova. Housing Development Board. https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/solarnova-page
Lee, L. (2022, May 19). The Big Read in short: Amid higher in electricity bills, going green means saving money too. TODAY. https://www.todayonline.com/big-read/big-read-short-amid-higher-electricity-bills-going-green-means-saving-money-too-1898036
Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. (2019, December 30). Why don’t we use 100% renewable energy in Singapore? Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore. https://www.mse.gov.sg/resource-room/category/2019-12-30-newsletter-why-dont-we-use-100%25-renewable-energy-in-singapore/
Meteorological Services Singapore. (n.d.). Climate of Singapore. Meteorological Services Singapore. http://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-climate-of-singapore/
NCCS Singapore. (n.d.). Power Generation. The National Climate Change Secretariat. https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/power-generation/#:~:text=Singapore's%20carbon%20footprint.-,Natural%20Gas.,scale%20up%20our%20other%20switches.
Tan, A., The Strait Times. (2022, February 7). Singapore to tap more green energy with JTC’s solar push. JTC. https://www.jtc.gov.sg/about-jtc/news-and-stories/feature-stories/singapore-to-tap-more-green-energy-with-jtc-solar-push
Tan, E. (2022, October 6). Spot prices for liquefied natural gas double between January and August. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/spot-prices-for-liquefied-natural-gas-double-between-january-and-august
Teh, S. (2021, September 5). Energy from sun viable source of green energy. The Strait Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/energy-from-sun-viable-source-of-green-power
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