Oral Reply to Parliamentary Question on Floating Solar Systems

Question:

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what has been the performance of Singapore’s floating solar systems deployed on reservoirs to date, including in terms of energy generation, efficiency and operational reliability; and (b) what are the Government’s plans for the further deployment and scaling of floating solar systems as part of Singapore’s energy transition strategy.

Answer:

Singapore has deployed 63 megawatt-peak (MWp) of floating solar systems in our reservoirs to-date, and plans to deploy an additional 350 megawatt-peak (MWp) of floating solar deployment across Lower Seletar, Pandan and Kranji reservoirs by 2030 in support of Singapore's 2030 solar deployment target of 3 gigawatt-peak (GWp). Singapore’s first large-scale floating solar farm at Tengeh Reservoir has been operational since July 2021, and the system generates 60 MWp, which is sufficient energy to power 16,000 4-room HDB flats. This is 7 to 10% more solar energy compared to land-based solar system of similar capacity.

Further deployment of floating solar systems on reservoirs and sea space will need to consider competing uses of these water bodies, such as for shipping, environmental conservation, recreation, and utilities.

The Government will continue to study the feasibility of deploying more floating solar systems, to maximise the deployment of solar on feasible spaces.