Preparing for the Future: Ideas and projects preparing Singapore for what’s next.
Powering a More Sustainable Future
26 January 2023
Find out how Singapore is moving towards greener energy sources.
Discover Singapore's Energy Story
Picture this: In the near future, you are the sole person in charge of powering your city. At your disposal is a mix of clean and not-so-clean energy sources. You will have to gather enough energy supply to meet your city’s power needs, all while balancing energy sustainability and affordability.
That is the gist of the multi-player “Future Power” game in the Science Centre’s Energy Story Exhibition. This permanent exhibition, jointly presented by Science Centre Singapore, the Energy Market Authority and SP Group, explores humans’ discovery of energy, and how it has become a part of our modern lives.
Children and adults alike will enjoy learning about Singapore’s Energy Story through interactive exhibits and hands-on games. They will also find out about Singapore’s “4 Switches” (natural gas, solar, regional power grids and low-carbon alternatives), as well as the importance of adopting energy efficient practices for Singapore’s transition to a greener future.
At the exhibition, you can also learn about sustainability through exploring student-designed worlds on the sandbox video game Minecraft. Photo: Tuber
Singapore's Move Towards Greener Energy
With limited renewable energy options, Singapore is highly dependent on energy imports.
How Are We Adopting Cleaner Energy?
Singapore is making the transition to cleaner energy sources such as:
Solar Energy
Electricity Imports
The Energy Market Authority aims to import up to a capacity of 4 gigawatts of low carbon electricity by 2035, making up 30% of our projected energy supply then. Singapore currently imports up to a capacity of 100 megawatts of hydropower from Lao PDR via Thailand and Malaysia using existing interconnectors.
Learn the Lingo
Carbon footprint: The amount of carbon emissions, or greenhouse gases, generated by our actions. The average Singaporean generates more than 8,000 kilograms of carbon emissions annually, more than twice the world’s average, and over four times the target for a sustainable footprint.
Gigawatt-peak: A measure of the maximum potential output of power, from a source like solar or wind, where the output varies according to the strength of sunlight or wind speed. 1 Gigawatt is 1,000 megawatts.
Hydrogen
Singapore believes that low-carbon hydrogen has the potential to be a major decarbonisation pathway to support our transition towards net zero by 2050. Hydrogen could complement and diversify our power mix alongside solar, imported electricity and other emerging low-carbon energy sources, by supplying up to 50% of our fuel mix.
Geothermal Energy
Singapore is in a region with quality geothermal resources deep underground.
With new technological developments, Singapore is exploring the potential of harnessing geothermal energy. Studies are being conducted and if found feasible, geothermal energy could serve as an additional clean energy source for power generation.
Global Outlook
Text by Hidayah Md Sham and Candice Leow. Illustration by Liew Xinyi and Lei Ng.