Floating solar panels at sea part of S’pore’s $6m investment in clean energy tech on Jurong Island

SINGAPORE – While the Republic has made great strides in increasing its solar capacity through the building of floating solar farms at reservoirs, it is now piloting a new type of floating solar panel system that can be placed at sea.

The new system is designed by Norwegian solar firm Ocean Sun to withstand stronger waves and rougher conditions associated with marine environments so that solar energy can be harnessed reliably. It is being tested by conglomerate Keppel’s subsidiary, Keppel Energy Nexus.

The pilot will generate 1.5 megawatt-peak of solar energy and will be constructed close to shore on Jurong Island, said the Energy Market Authority (EMA), JTC and Enterprise Singapore in a joint statement on Friday (July 15).
The project was one of three awarded a total of $6 million in grants to test new, clean energy solutions on Jurong Island.

Speaking at the Energy Innovation 2022 conference on Friday at Marina Bay Sands, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said that the power sector currently accounts for 40 per cent of Singapore’s carbon emissions, and a move to reach net-zero by 2050 will require collaboration from all of society – including the Government, industries and businesses.

Making Jurong Island a more sustainable energy and chemical park is part of the efforts to reach net-zero emissions, said the agencies in their statement on Friday.