Island’s reliance on solar energy increases as new upgrades reduce the need for diesel.
SINGAPORE – Pulau Ubin’s microgrid has been upgraded to provide 95% of its electricity from solar power, a significant increase from the 15% reliance on solar when it was first established in 2013. The enhanced system includes solar panels and energy storage batteries to ensure more consistent energy delivery, reducing reliance on diesel and mitigating the intermittency challenges often faced by renewable energy sources.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA), which established the microgrid, collaborated with EDP Renewables to carry out upgrades, installing 328 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar panels and batteries capable of storing 1 megawatt-hour of electricity. This storage capacity is enough to power approximately 83 four-room Housing Board flats. The new system allows for a more reliable power supply, even during periods when solar generation is low.
Over 30 households on the island now rely on the microgrid, using solar power for everyday needs while keeping backup generators in place for emergencies. One resident, Ng Ngak Heng, who runs a provision shop, shared how the new system offers more reliable power, reducing her reliance on the diesel generators she used to maintain for her business operations. She also noted how the shift to solar has brought a quieter, more peaceful environment compared to the constant hum of generators in the past.
The upgraded microgrid represents a step toward more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions on Pulau Ubin. Residents are currently paying 80 cents per kWh, with this fixed price in place until 2034, providing greater predictability compared to fluctuating diesel prices. The move away from diesel also shields the island from the volatility of global energy prices, offering financial relief to the community.
The microgrid is also a testing ground for clean energy solutions, with the potential for similar models to be implemented across other islands and even on the mainland in the future. The EMA has expressed that this initiative will help Singapore scale up its solar energy deployment to meet its goal of achieving 2 gigawatt-peak of solar capacity by 2030.
As the microgrid reduces the need for diesel, it also supports Pulau Ubin’s transition to cleaner, renewable energy, enhancing sustainability and reliability for residents.
