EMA launches government-wide solar framework to meet 2035 target

The Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA) on Tuesday (Oct 27) launched a whole-of-government solar demand aggregation framework as part of efforts to meet the country's expanded solar deployment target of 4 gigawatt-peak (GWp) by 2035.

"To get there, we will harness solar energy wherever we can across Singapore," said Minister of State for Energy, Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang at the Asia Clean Energy Summit, held alongside the Singapore International Energy Week.

To do so, Singapore will have to scale up solar deployment across available spaces, from rooftop on public and private buildings to vacant land and water surfaces.

It will also turn to advanced technology to unlock new surfaces for solar deployment.

On scaling up deployment, Gan noted that for the public sector, conventional rooftop solar has been deployed on over 5,000 HDB blocks and public spaces through HDB's SolarNova programme and other existing efforts.

But, she pointed out that there is still room to solarise more public spaces beyond rooftops, highlighting that there is potential to include new surfaces such as solar carports and building-integrated photovoltaics.

Photovoltaics a technology that converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials.

Optimising Singapore's limited space

In a media factsheet after the minister of state's speech, EMA said that the demand aggregation framework will bring together solar demand from across the public sector, thereby unlocking more opportunities for solar deployment.

This includes sites with different tenures, operational needs and conditions, it added.

Under the framework, a panel of solar photovoltaic installers will be appointed to help government agencies assess the solar potential of their premises and develop tailored proposals for solar photovoltaic deployment.

The framework also helps to open opportunities to go beyond conventional rooftops and make better use of Singapore's limited space.

Explaining this, EMA stated that agencies can explore innovative solar solutions such as solar carports, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and building-applied photovoltaics (BAPV).

These, it added, tap on built environment spaces for clean energy generation opportunities.

"Together, these efforts reflect Singapore's commitment to maximise every suitable opportunity for solar deployment as we work towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future," EMA said.

Other initiatives include making it easier for private residential property owners to adopt solar, and ensuring the power grid remains ready to support the increased supply from solar.

EMA will partner the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore to create avenues for homeowners to connect with suitable installers, said Gan. More details will be announced next year.

Solar energy is expected to meet up to 10 per cent of Singapore's electricity needs in 2050.

新加坡能源市场管理局（EMA）于周二（10 月 27 日）启动了一项全政府范围的太阳能需求聚合框架，这是为实现该国到 2035 年太阳能装机容量扩大至 4 吉瓦峰值（GWp）的目标而采取的措施之一。

“为了实现这一目标，我们将在新加坡各地尽可能地利用太阳能，”能源、贸易和工业部政务部长颜晓煌在与新加坡国际能源周同期举行的亚洲清洁能源峰会上表示。

为此，新加坡必须扩大太阳能的部署规模，充分利用各种可用空间，从公共和私人建筑的屋顶到空地和水面。

它还将利用先进技术来开发新的太阳能部署表面。

关于扩大部署规模，甘先生指出，在公共部门，通过建屋发展局的 SolarNova 计划和其他现有举措，已在超过 5000 个建屋发展局组屋和公共场所部署了传统的屋顶太阳能。

但她指出，除了屋顶之外，还有更多公共空间可以利用太阳能，并强调有可能包括太阳能车棚和建筑一体化光伏发电等新型表面。

光伏技术是一种利用半导体材料将太阳光直接转化为电能的技术。

优化新加坡有限的空间

在国务部长发表讲话后，EMA 在一份媒体情况说明书中表示，需求聚合框架将汇集来自公共部门的太阳能需求，从而释放更多太阳能部署的机会。

报告补充说，这包括具有不同产权期限、运营需求和条件的场地。

根据该框架，将任命一个太阳能光伏安装商小组，帮助政府机构评估其场所的太阳能潜力，并制定量身定制的太阳能光伏部署方案。

该框架还有助于创造机会，超越传统的屋顶空间，更好地利用新加坡有限的空间。

EMA解释说，各机构可以探索创新的太阳能解决方案，例如太阳能车棚、建筑集成光伏（BIPV）和建筑应用光伏（BAPV）。

报告还指出，这些措施利用了建筑环境空间，为清洁能源的生产创造了机会。

“这些努力共同体现了新加坡致力于抓住每一个合适的太阳能部署机会，朝着更清洁、更可持续的能源未来迈进的决心，”EMA表示。

其他举措包括让私人住宅业主更容易采用太阳能，并确保电网随时准备支持太阳能发电带来的增长。

EMA将与新加坡可持续能源协会合作，为业主搭建联系合适安装商的渠道，Gan表示。更多详情将于明年公布。

预计到 2050 年，太阳能将满足新加坡高达 10% 的电力需求。