Summary Reader Response Draft #3

According to the Housing Development Board (2022), the SolarNova programme, spearheaded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Housing and 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 role 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 agencies: the Singapore Monetary Authority, the Ministry of Education, the People's Association, the Singapore Polytechnic, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board, and the Ministry of Health. According to the Housing Development Board (2022), encouraging the use of solar energy is also a key initiative in the HDB Green Transportation Plan that will achieve net-zero energy consumption in our HDB heartlands. Solar panel installation would take place in lots and be finished by 2025. With this, HDB will take action by promoting greater adoption and use of solar panels. This reduces the use of fossil fuels in the production of electricity. 

The webpage also postulated that this initiative promotes and aggregates demand for solar PV among government entities to get 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 and some environmental benefits of using solar PV systems are evident. 

One economic benefit of installing solar panels would be that it would allow a household to reduce their electricity bills. The most recent tender has also seen additional solar panels installed in the heartlands, demonstrating the effectiveness of previous tenders in improving the inhabitants' quality of life. One such person is Mr Arun Murthy, who installed 100 solar panels on the roof of his landed property in Bukit Timah. He saved $830 by spending $370 on electricity charges instead of $1200 on electricity bills before installing the solar panels. Besides meeting the energy needs of the home, the solar panels generate excess electricity throughout the day, which is sold back to SP Group and then managed 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, which, when connected to electrical wiring, is used by the house instead of the utility's electricity.

Furthermore, one positive view of the environmental benefits is 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 are increasingly installed islandwide. 

With that being said, there are downsides to the SolarNova program. Despite typically having a tropical climate, cloud cover is a problem. This means that on days when there is high cloud coverage, the amount of solar energy produced lessens as the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels decreases. In addition, the constant high temperature reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cell (Andrews-Speed, 2021). Also, Singapore is a small country that lacks land, so using solar energy can take up huge amounts of land. As such, Singapore does not fully rely on renewable energy sources such as solar energy.

To sum up, the SolarNova programme is a successful programme run by EDB and HDB. The programme has enabled Singapore to gain a greater sense of energy independence and security while minimising environmental impact. Although the programme has limitations, some of which are beyond human control, it is correct to say that it has been performing well and is on track to meet its objectives.

References

Andrews-Speed, A. (2021, May 4). Commentary: Why hasn’t solar energy in Singapore taken off in a big way after so long? Channel NewsAsia. 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. (2022, February 7).  Singapore to tap more green energy with JTC’s solar push. JTC Corporation. 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