Singapore will continue to rely on natural gas for the next 50 years: Chan Chun Sing

[kobayashiGT]

Singapore will continue to rely on natural gas for the next 50 years: Chan Chun Sing

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-will-continue-to-rely-on-natural-gas-for-the-next-50-years-chan-chun

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing speaks during the opening of the Singapore International Energy Week at Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Oct 29, 2019.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - Solar energy would by 2030 make up a greater share of Singapore's energy mix, but natural gas, a fossil fuel, would still be the Republic's dominant fuel in the near future, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Oct 29).

Singapore has limited access to renewable energy options such as geothermal or wind power, Mr Chan said during the opening session of Singapore International Energy Week.

But the Republic will scale up its efforts to harness sunshine, the one thing that is plentiful on the island, with a new target of increasing installed solar capacity by more than seven times from current levels to reach 2 gigawatt-peak by 2030.

Yet, harnessing solar power will not come without challenges, including cost, urban shading and the intermittency of sunshine due to cloud cover, for example.

Said Mr Chan: "We will continue to rely on natural gas for the next 50 years for a substantial part of our energy needs."

More than 95 per cent of Singapore's energy now comes from natural gas, which it imports in liquefied forms from all over the world and through pipes from neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia.

Singapore is moving towards a future of cleaner, affordable and reliable energy, Mr Chan said. The city-state began this journey in the early 2000s , as it transitioned away from oil to natural gas, he said.

Now, it will look to ramping up solar, and making its natural gas plants more efficient.

In the longer term, Singapore could be plugged into a regional power grid to trade electricity with its neighbours, which would increase its energy security, even as the Republic invests in research and development in other low-carbon technologies that, unlike solar energy, had yet to become commercially viable.

Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel.

It emits 50 to 60 percent less carbon dioxide when burnt in a new, efficient natural gas power plant compared with emissions from a typical new coal plant, according to the United States Union of Concerned Scientists.

When compared with diesel, natural gas produces about 30 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions, figures from the US Energy Information Administration show.

But if natural gas, which largely comprises methane, leaks before it is burnt, there could be repercussions on global climate.

This is because methane is a more potent greenhouse gas compared with carbon dioxide.

The latest assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said methane is 28 times more efficient than carbon dioxide at trapping heat on the planet.

Methane contributed just 0.39 per cent of Singapore's emissions in 2014, said a report Singapore submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change last December.

The authorities are taking measures to reduce the chance of such leaks, and to boost the reliability of the gas network.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said conventional leak detection methods require intensive human involvement without automation and also rely heavily on customer reports on gas service problems, instead of direct detections.

EMA had previously funded a project to identify and detect anomalies in the gas pipeline network via a system involving a variety sensors and a computer algorithm.

Vigti is a spin-off from the project which was successfully completed early this year and there are plans to scale this up further, said EMA.

Separately, in response to queries on Singapore's only coal-fired plant on Jurong Island, an EMA spokesman said the use of coal is carefully managed.

The facilities on Jurong Island use a variety of fuel, she said, and the Tuas Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex was set up to provide utilities such as steam and electricity to chemical companies on Jurong Island.

The EMA spokesman added that the greenhouse gas emissions from the complex is similar to that of existing fuel oil plants in Singapore's system today, as the complex uses "a mix of clean coal and biomass to produce steam and electricity".

Asked on future plans for the coal plant, she said Singapore would continue to improve the technology or retro-fit certain parts of gas-fired plants to improve efficiency and produce much cleaner energy.

"We are working on adopting more solar energy, importing from the regional grid, and exploring emerging low-carbon technologies," she added.

Quote

does that mean you can still drive a petroleum car for the next 50 years in singapore?

 

[Volvobrick]

I thought someone wants to set up solar farm in Western Australia and pipes the electricity over? Only need a 3000 or 4000km cable. 

[Victor68]

I think tapping energy direct from the universe and beaming down to earth better lah. We are far from it but every little R&D help. 

[Windwaver]

Hey, we can collect all the methane gas from our asses and sell back to the national power grid?

[Volvobrick]

4 minutes ago, Windwaver said:

Hey, we can collect all the methane gas from our asses and sell back to the national power grid?

If bulls**t contains methane, then just collect from the politicians is enough to power 1M homes......

[Windwaver]

36 minutes ago, Volvobrick said:

If bulls**t contains methane, then just collect from the politicians is enough to power 1M homes......

The methane gas from elites more powerful than mine?

[Beregond]

i think indirectly he is telling us dun need worry about nuclear plant, it wont happen

[Ag123]

actually planet earth is running out of oil, so even natural gas will be completely exhausted

better have solar now or by then will even run out of electricity, nuclear is too dangerous and too expensive. even usa stopped building nuclear plants

note all airlines and ships are going to *stop*, for cars you have electric cars

Edited November 1, 2019 by Ag123

[Victor68]

It is all about the cost to extract oil against other sources. Once we find alternative that cost less to produce the same energy,  who still want oil?

Many article state 55 years but that is just an assumption base on current information and no change in the parameters how the 55 years was computed. Solar, wind, earth rotation, wave, fusion, etc not to mention algae BP has been looking at are what will keep the generations alive. Who are the biggest looser if we stop relying on oil today?

Edited November 2, 2019 by Victor68
Additional info

[Sdf4786k]

33 minutes ago, Victor68 said:

It is all about the cost to extract oil against other sources. Once we find alternative that cost less to produce the same energy,  who still want oil?

Many article state 55 years but that is just an assumption base on current information and no change in the parameters how the 55 years was computed. Solar, wind, earth rotation, wave, fusion, etc not to mention algae BP has been looking at are what will keep the generations alive. Who are the biggest looser if we stop relying on oil today?

this is a old article but a good read to explain.

http://www.bu.edu/eci/files/2019/06/RenewableEnergyEcon.pdf

[Beregond]

42 minutes ago, Victor68 said:

It is all about the cost to extract oil against other sources. Once we find alternative that cost less to produce the same energy,  who still want oil?

Many article state 55 years but that is just an assumption base on current information and no change in the parameters how the 55 years was computed. Solar, wind, earth rotation, wave, fusion, etc not to mention algae BP has been looking at are what will keep the generations alive. Who are the biggest looser if we stop relying on oil today?

There will be war if suddenly a new source  of energy is available that is cheaper n less pollution then oil come out of no where.

 

[Ash2017]

On 10/29/2019 at 5:45 PM, kobayashiGT said:

Singapore will continue to rely on natural gas for the next 50 years: Chan Chun Sing

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-will-continue-to-rely-on-natural-gas-for-the-next-50-years-chan-chun

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing speaks during the opening of the Singapore International Energy Week at Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Oct 29, 2019.ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - Solar energy would by 2030 make up a greater share of Singapore's energy mix, but natural gas, a fossil fuel, would still be the Republic's dominant fuel in the near future, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Oct 29).

Singapore has limited access to renewable energy options such as geothermal or wind power, Mr Chan said during the opening session of Singapore International Energy Week.

But the Republic will scale up its efforts to harness sunshine, the one thing that is plentiful on the island, with a new target of increasing installed solar capacity by more than seven times from current levels to reach 2 gigawatt-peak by 2030.

Yet, harnessing solar power will not come without challenges, including cost, urban shading and the intermittency of sunshine due to cloud cover, for example.

Said Mr Chan: "We will continue to rely on natural gas for the next 50 years for a substantial part of our energy needs."

More than 95 per cent of Singapore's energy now comes from natural gas, which it imports in liquefied forms from all over the world and through pipes from neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia.

Singapore is moving towards a future of cleaner, affordable and reliable energy, Mr Chan said. The city-state began this journey in the early 2000s , as it transitioned away from oil to natural gas, he said.

Now, it will look to ramping up solar, and making its natural gas plants more efficient.

In the longer term, Singapore could be plugged into a regional power grid to trade electricity with its neighbours, which would increase its energy security, even as the Republic invests in research and development in other low-carbon technologies that, unlike solar energy, had yet to become commercially viable.

Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel.

It emits 50 to 60 percent less carbon dioxide when burnt in a new, efficient natural gas power plant compared with emissions from a typical new coal plant, according to the United States Union of Concerned Scientists.

When compared with diesel, natural gas produces about 30 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions, figures from the US Energy Information Administration show.

But if natural gas, which largely comprises methane, leaks before it is burnt, there could be repercussions on global climate.

This is because methane is a more potent greenhouse gas compared with carbon dioxide.

The latest assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said methane is 28 times more efficient than carbon dioxide at trapping heat on the planet.

Methane contributed just 0.39 per cent of Singapore's emissions in 2014, said a report Singapore submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change last December.

The authorities are taking measures to reduce the chance of such leaks, and to boost the reliability of the gas network.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) said conventional leak detection methods require intensive human involvement without automation and also rely heavily on customer reports on gas service problems, instead of direct detections.

EMA had previously funded a project to identify and detect anomalies in the gas pipeline network via a system involving a variety sensors and a computer algorithm.

Vigti is a spin-off from the project which was successfully completed early this year and there are plans to scale this up further, said EMA.

Separately, in response to queries on Singapore's only coal-fired plant on Jurong Island, an EMA spokesman said the use of coal is carefully managed.

The facilities on Jurong Island use a variety of fuel, she said, and the Tuas Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex was set up to provide utilities such as steam and electricity to chemical companies on Jurong Island.

The EMA spokesman added that the greenhouse gas emissions from the complex is similar to that of existing fuel oil plants in Singapore's system today, as the complex uses "a mix of clean coal and biomass to produce steam and electricity".

Asked on future plans for the coal plant, she said Singapore would continue to improve the technology or retro-fit certain parts of gas-fired plants to improve efficiency and produce much cleaner energy.

"We are working on adopting more solar energy, importing from the regional grid, and exploring emerging low-carbon technologies," she added.

 

our government NEVER throw out information for free, usually it is done for a specific reason

I am guessing it is cool the nerves of our MNC (shell, Esso, mobil, etc) that their investment is safe

 

up till today, I still cannot understand why the 3/4 tank rule still exist in Singapore? why punish the citizens who wants to drive or ride especially they already paid expensive COE, ERP and etc. 

the underlying for making it expensive to drive on the road is namely pollution but yet they stop the progress of electric vehicles in SG. instead the proliferation of PMD leading to wild fires in concrete jungle

 

we have so much sun all year round and solar energy is dropping in cost, yet we talk and talk about electricity conservation and increases taxes

 

some point in the future, the government of the day, really needs to come out and explain all these so that the public can understand, otherwise you cant blame the public for being so miserable.

[Ash2017]

On 10/30/2019 at 9:13 AM, Beregond said:

i think indirectly he is telling us dun need worry about nuclear plant, it wont happen

I think you are dead wrong

when this government floats an idea it will eventually become reality

 

 

[Sdf4786k]

1 minute ago, Ash2017 said:

I think you are dead wrong

when this government floats an idea it will eventually become reality

 

 

Ok then brace for a population growth of 10mil with tiny letter box space for making love

[Ash2017]

3 minutes ago, Sdf4786k said:

Ok then brace for a population growth of 10mil with tiny letter box space for making love

if you look around, it is pretty obvious already, roads planning to go underground, bash through green for our trains, floating homes, authorities eyeing Pulau Ubin etc. To make sure the squeeze is understood and necessary, even our minister like you say already tell you practice sex in small spaces

[Enye]

29 minutes ago, Ash2017 said:

our government NEVER throw out information for free, usually it is done for a specific reason

I am guessing it is cool the nerves of our MNC (shell, Esso, mobil, etc) that their investment is safe

 

up till today, I still cannot understand why the 3/4 tank rule still exist in Singapore? why punish the citizens who wants to drive or ride especially they already paid expensive COE, ERP and etc. 

the underlying for making it expensive to drive on the road is namely pollution but yet they stop the progress of electric vehicles in SG. instead the proliferation of PMD leading to wild fires in concrete jungle

 

we have so much sun all year round and solar energy is dropping in cost, yet we talk and talk about electricity conservation and increases taxes

 

some point in the future, the government of the day, really needs to come out and explain all these so that the public can understand, otherwise you cant blame the public for being so miserable.

dunno wtf you talking about...

oil majors and their investments here don’t even supply natural gas to sg

🤣

[Lala81]

1 hour ago, Beregond said:

There will be war if suddenly a new source  of energy is available that is cheaper n less pollution then oil come out of no where.

 

It's already been here since the atomic bomb in 1945.

 

[Lala81]

Solar power can somewhat complement Natural gas plants cos natural gas plants can change electricity production easily via reducing gas flow to the turbine. 

But solar power can only be at best a small component of any electricity grid. Unless u build massive banks of batteries to store them cos singapore cannot build hydropower stores of electricity.

Edited November 2, 2019 by Lala81