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Harnessing Nature:
Exploring the Power of Green Energy
Embracing the Green Revolution
In recent years, the world has witnessed a profound shift towards green energy as nations strive to combat climate change and secure a sustainable future. Governments, businesses, and individuals are increasingly recognizing the urgency of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
Global trends indicate a surge in investments and technological innovations in the green energy sector, driven by ambitious climate goals and environmental awareness. Countries are pioneering diverse renewable energy projects, from expansive solar farms to advanced hydrogen fuel initiatives, demonstrating a collective commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable choices.
This blog delves into various types of green energy, exploring their current trends, technological breakthroughs, and the pivotal role they play in shaping a cleaner, greener planet.

Solar Energy: Capturing the Sun’s Power
Overview
Solar energy harnesses the power of the sun through photovoltaic (PV) panels or solar thermal systems to generate electricity or heat. Abundant and sustainable, solar energy is increasingly cost-effective and suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
How It Works
Think of solar panels like leaves on a tree. Just as leaves absorb sunlight and convert it into energy for the tree through photosynthesis, solar panels capture sunlight and transform it into electricity through photovoltaic cells.
Current Trends and Innovations
In Singapore, solar energy is rapidly expanding. The country aims to quadruple its solar energy deployment by 2025, targeting 1.5 gigawatt-peak (GWp) (Energy Market Authority, n.d.). Due to limited land space, Singapore has innovated with floating solar farms on reservoirs, significantly boosting its solar capacity and demonstrating a commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
Table 1. Solar Capacity by Planning Region
*Data for 2023 is as at Q2 2023
(Source: Energy Market Authority, n.d.)

Wind Energy: Harnessing the Wind
Overview
Wind energy captures the kinetic energy of wind using turbines to generate electricity. Wind farms, both onshore and offshore, offer significant energy output with minimal environmental impact. Wind energy is among the fastest-growing renewable energy sources globally.
How It Works
Think of wind turbines like pinwheels. Just as pinwheels spin when blown by the wind, wind turbines capture wind energy to generate electricity. The stronger the wind, the faster they spin and the more energy they produce.
Current Trends and Innovations
Singapore faces challenges in deploying wind energy due to its geographical and climatic conditions, where the average wind speed is only 2-3m/s. This is below the optimal operating range of 4.5m/s for wind turbines (Energy Market Authority, n.d.). Despite these limitations, ongoing advancements in wind turbine technology may open up prospects for future deployment in the region.

Hydropower: The Force of Water
Overview
Hydropower generates electricity by using the flow of water in rivers, streams, or dams. It is one of the oldest and most reliable forms of renewable energy. Small-scale hydro systems offer environmentally friendly options for generating renewable energy with reduced ecological impacts.
How It Works
Imagine a watermill at a river. As the river flows, it turns the watermill's wheel, which grinds grain or powers machinery. Similarly, hydropower systems use flowing water to turn turbines, generating electricity.
Current Trends and Innovations
Singapore’s flat terrain and limited natural water resources make large-scale hydropower deployment impractical (Asia Wind Energy Association, n.d.; National Climate Change Secretariat, n.d.). However, opportunities exist for small-scale hydro systems in specific waterways and reservoirs. These systems can contribute to local renewable energy initiatives on a smaller scale, although their potential is limited compared to regions with abundant water resources. Singapore remains focused on innovative solutions and research to maximize its renewable energy potential despite these geographical constraints.

Biomass Energy: Turning Waste into Power
Overview
Biomass energy is produced from organic materials like wood, agricultural residues, and animal manure. These materials are converted into biofuels or burned to generate electricity, heat, or transportation fuels. Biomass energy can help manage waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions when sourced and used sustainably.
How It Works
Visualize biomass energy like a compost heap. Just as composting organic waste turns it into valuable fertilizer, biomass technology converts organic materials like food waste and agricultural residues into energy, providing a productive use for waste.
Current Trends and Innovations
In Singapore, biomass energy primarily comes from waste materials like food waste and wood residues. The Tembusu Multi-Utilities Complex (TMUC) on Jurong Island features a biomass and clean coal cogeneration plant optimized for producing both steam and electricity (Energy Market Authority, n.d.). This approach aligns with the country's strategy to convert waste to energy efficiently. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) continues to monitor advancements in biomass power generation technologies to enhance energy production and sustainability efforts.

Geothermal Energy: The Earth’s Inner Heat
Overview
Geothermal energy harnesses the Earth's internal heat to generate electricity or provide direct heating. This energy is accessed by drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs to bring hot water or steam to the surface. Geothermal energy is highly reliable, providing a constant power supply and serving as an excellent base-load energy source.
How It Works
Think of geothermal energy like a natural hot spring. Just as hot springs bring warm water to the surface from deep within the Earth, geothermal systems tap into the Earth's internal heat to generate electricity or provide direct heating.
Current Trends and Innovations
Geothermal energy, while not yet significantly deployed in Singapore, holds promise as a local renewable energy source. Experts are cautiously optimistic about its potential due to advances in drilling technology and ongoing research. Unlike solar energy, which is weather-dependent, geothermal energy offers a more stable power supply. The EMA is actively exploring this option, with a focus on deep geothermal systems that could provide a consistent and reliable energy source for Singapore's net-zero goals (Energy Market Authority, 2024).

Hydrogen Energy: The Fuel of the Future
Overview
Hydrogen energy uses hydrogen as a clean fuel source. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, can power fuel cells to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heat, emitting only water vapor. Hydrogen has the potential to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industry and long-haul transportation.
How It Works
Consider hydrogen as a clean sponge. It absorbs energy when created through electrolysis and releases it when needed, emitting only water vapor, like a sponge that soaks up water and then releases it when squeezed.
Current Trends and Innovations
Singapore is actively exploring hydrogen energy as a key part of its decarbonization strategy, targeting hard-to-electrify sectors like heavy industry and transport. The focus is on developing low-carbon hydrogen produced using renewable sources or with carbon capture. Despite the current lack of established global supply chains, Singapore's efforts include pilot projects and research initiatives. An Expression of Interest was launched to assess the feasibility of using hydrogen for power generation and other applications, aiming to make Singapore a hub for hydrogen technology and innovation in Asia (Energy Market Authority, n.d.).

Ocean Energy: The Untapped Potential
Overview
Ocean energy includes wave energy, tidal energy, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). Wave and tidal energy capture the movement of seawater to generate electricity, while OTEC uses the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water to produce power. These technologies are promising for coastal and island regions.
How It Works
Imagine ocean energy as a wind-up toy. The natural movements of waves and tides wind up the "toy," storing energy that is then slowly released to generate electricity, harnessing the constant motion of the ocean.
Current Trends and Innovations
Singapore's narrow tidal range and calm seas present challenges for commercial tidal power generation. However, the country is focusing on feasibility studies and pilot projects to explore the potential of these technologies (Energy Market Authority, n.d.). Additionally, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is being researched as a long-term option for sustainable energy production. The EMA continues to monitor advancements in ocean renewable energy to evaluate their applicability within Singapore's unique maritime environment.
A Sustainable Future
As we navigate the complexities of climate change and energy demand, green energy stands out as a beacon of hope. The advancements in renewable technologies are not just reducing our carbon footprint but also paving the way for economic growth and energy security. By embracing these diverse green energy solutions, from solar and wind to hydrogen and ocean energy, we can ensure a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations. The journey towards a sustainable future is a collective effort, and every step taken today brings us closer to a greener tomorrow. Together, we can harness the power of nature to create a sustainable and prosperous world for all.
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References
Asia Wind Energy Association. (n.d.). Singapore. Retrieved from Asia Wind Energy Association:
https://www.asiawind.org/research-data/market-overview/singapore/
Energy Market Authority. (2024). Turning Up the Heat on Geothermal Energy. Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/news-events/news/feature-stories/2024/turning-up-the-heat-on-geothermal-energy
Energy Market Authority. (2024). Chapter 6: Solar. Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/singapore-energy-statistics/chapter6
Energy Market Authority. (n.d.). Is Singapore considering biomass power plants? Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/faqs/energy-supply/low-carbon-alternatives/is-singapore-considering-biomass-power-plants
Energy Market Authority. (n.d.). Is Singapore considering the use of hydrogen for electricity generation?
Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/faqs/energy-supply/low-carbon-alternatives/is-singapore-considering-the-use-of-hydrogen-for-electricity-generation
Energy Market Authority. (n.d.). Is Singapore considering the use of tidal energy? Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/faqs/energy-supply/low-carbon-alternatives/is-singapore-considering-the-use-of-tidal-energy
Energy Market Authority. (n.d.). Is Singapore considering the use of wind energy? Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/faqs/energy-supply/low-carbon-alternatives/is-singapore-considering-the-use-of-wind-energy
Energy Market Authority. (n.d.). What fuel is used to generate electricity in Singapore? Retrieved from Energy Market Authority: https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/faqs/energy-supply/energy-security/what-fuel-is-used-to-generate-electricity-in-singapore
Energy Market Authority. (n.d.). What is the potential of solar energy in Singapore? Retrieved from Energy Market Authority:
https://www.ema.gov.sg/resources/faqs/energy-supply/solar/what-is-the-potential-of-solar-energy-in-singapore
National Climate Change Secretariat. (2022). Singapore Commits to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050. Retrieved from National Climate Change Secretariat: https://www.nccs.gov.sg/media/press-releases/singapore-commits-to-achieve-net-zero/
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Singapore Green Plan 2030. (n.d.). Our Targets. Retrieved from Singapore Green Plan 2030: https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/targets/