Cost-effective energy storage key to resolving the renewables conundrum

Mr Bernard Nee delivering the Opening Keynote Address at AFEF & ASG

Cost-effective energy storage is “the ultimate solution” for the perennial challenge of integrating renewable sources of energy into the power grid while maintaining grid stability in Singapore, said the Energy Market Authority’s Assistant Chief Executive Bernard Nee at the Asia Future Energy Forum.

He said that this is important because renewable energy sources are desirable in the new energy landscape where the mitigation of climate change is increasingly an imperative and that solar technology is “the renewable energy source that has the greatest potential for large scale deployment” in Singapore.

However, Mr Nee cautioned that before such large scale deployment can take place, there are many challenges that must be addressed.

“Our main challenge, however, is intermittency caused by cloud cover. Coupled with our small geographical size, this reduces the degree of diversity across the network. In addition, unlike the interconnected grids in continental Europe which help address intermittency issues, there is limited connectivity to grids outside of Singapore,” he said.

More efficient management of power grids facilitated by new, emerging technologies such as smart meters would help meet some of these challenges, he said, adding that among these, a cost-effective, grid-scale energy storage solution shows the most promise. The added advantage is that efforts are being made worldwide to make the technology commercially viable for consumers.

Mr Nee also touched on a public consultation paper launched by EMA on the policy framework for intermittent generation. The paper seeks input for a mechanism to recognize how intermittent sources of energy such as solar can help to reduce peak demand and consequently electricity pool prices. It also outlines a framework to manage the variability of such intermittent energy sources, so as to stabilize the grid. This framework would ideally facilitate a higher deployment of solar energy in Singapore without compromising the stability of electricity supply.

Singapore’s EMA also launched the Pulau Ubin Micro Grid test-bed in October 2013, to assess the reliability of electricity supply in a grid that includes intermittent energy sources and is also collaborating with the Experimental Power Grid Centre to better understand how intermittent energy sources can be integrated into the power grid without compromising overall grid stability.

He said: “Looking ahead, the Government will continue to build capabilities in areas such as smart grid design, and in the management of intermittent renewable energy resources. We will also seek system-level solutions that enhance the overall efficiency and resilience of our power grid. These efforts will create new opportunities in both the power generation and clean energy sector.”

BY : Chia Kang Yang, EMA