Singapore Energy Resilience Strategy: An Off-grid and Micro-grid Power Using Smart Energy Management Solutions to be Deployed Island-wide

ADJOURNMENT MOTION

The Leader of the House (Ms Indranee Rajah): Mr Speaker, I move, "That Parliament do now adjourn."

Question proposed.

SINGAPORE ENERGY RESILIENCE STRATEGY: AN OFF-GRID AND MICRO-GRID POWER USING SMART ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS TO BE DEPLOYED ISLAND-WIDE

Mr Speaker: Mr Azhar Othman.

8.56 pm

Mr Azhar Othman (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise today to move a Motion for a national energy resilience strategy, specifically the adoption of decentralised off-grid and micro-grid power solutions, integrating solar photovoltaic generation and battery energy storage systems, along with a customised smart energy management solution.

There are other forms of renewable energy we can consider, such as small unit waste to energy, hydrogen-based genset and wind energy. But in this Motion, we will only consider battery and solar for simplicity. Kindly take note, any proposed design and data used in my speech are primarily from our very own assessment and should the government of the day would like to comment, correct or even share their data, I truly welcome the initiative.

Before I proceed further, I declare my position. I am the Executive Chairman of an engineering firm that designs and integrates customised power systems and energy management solutions. My company has completed over 3,000 projects across 20 countries. I hold an engineering degree and have practised in this field for more than two decades.

Mr Speaker, let me frame this Motion with clarity. I shall first describe Singapore's current power generation architecture. Second, I will examine credible disruption scenarios, both historical and future. Third, I will present a technically grounded, decentralised strategy to counter those disruptions. Finally, I will explain how this strategy makes every estate or constituency in Singapore a resilient node in a national fabric of energy security. There are seven parts to my speech, and these are very succinct.

Part one, current standing; centralised vulnerability. Today, Singapore's electrical grid is overwhelmingly centralised. Approximately 95% of our electricity is generated from natural gas, imported via pipelines from neighbouring countries and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. These gas-fired combined-cycle plants are highly efficient, but they remain single-point-of-failure risks. A supply interruption from a foreign source, a gas pipeline breach or a simultaneous failure of two major plants could cascade into a system-wide blackout.

We have already seen warnings. In 2018, a major blackout affected parts of Ang Mo Kio, Yishun and other areas. Each time, the root cause traced back to a localised fault that propagated because our grid lacks sufficient segmentation and distributed back-up. At the building level, many industrial and commercial facilities maintain diesel generator sets to power critical loads. But these come with well-known limitations – fuel storage constraints, refuelling logistics during extended outages, emissions, noise and maintenance burdens. Public housing estates, which house 80% of our population, largely lack any form of backup beyond emergency lighting in stairwells. When the grid fails, lifts stop. Water pumps stop. Lightings off. This is not resilience; this is dependence.

On a side note, I understand that a micro-grid project has been initiated by the Government in 2018 but till now, we have not seen the outcome of the project nor implementation of the solutions in a bigger scale. Probably the Ministry-in-charge can update on the development of the micro-grid project in Pulau Ubin.

The second part, disruption scenarios beyond the conventional. We must think beyond routine failures. Consider these credible high impact scenarios.

Scenario A: regional gas supply interruption. A geopolitical event or natural disaster disrupts gas supply. We do have back-up supplies, but after that, power plants begin tripping. Without distributed backup, entire neighbourhoods go dark.

Scenario B: a cyber attack. A coordinated cyber attack targets the main power control systems and several power plants' supervisory control and data acquisition networks. Centralised command is lost. Even if generation exists, dispatch fails.

Scenario C: extreme weather. Increasingly intense tropical storms, lightning or flooding events can cause simultaneous faults on multiple transmission lines. The grid sheds load in cascading sequences.

In all these scenarios, a single centralised solution – building more gas plants or interconnectors – does not solve the fundamental problem. The problem is architectural, not just volumetric.

Part three, the proposed technical strategy. I propose a layered, distributed architecture comprising three technical elements.

Element one: rooftop and space-optimised solar building integrated photovoltaics, which has been well implemented by the Government. I am glad to see that solar photovoltaics have been deployed on Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks' rooftops and floating farms on reservoirs. We should aim to have deployment on every available suitable surface – multi-storey car parks, school roofs and industrial warehouse roof tops.

Modern solar modules achieve 24% to 25% efficiency. In Singapore's solar irradiance of approximately 1,580 kilowatt/square metre/year, a typical HDB block roof of 1,500 square metres can host a 250 to 300 kilowatt-peak system, generating roughly 340 megawatt-hour annually – enough to cover common area and essential load needs during daylight hours.

Element two: battery energy storage systems (BESS). Pair each solar installation with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) BESS. LFP chemistry offers superior thermal stability, longer cycle life – 6,000 to 10,000 cycles – and no thermal runaway risk – critical for high-rise residential applications.

I will give an example of technical sizing, for the sake of presenting my speech. Take Block 95 at Aljunied Crescent, with an estimated essential load per block, with two lifts, pump and corridor lighting, and a total load of 22 kilowatts. To protect the load running for four to eight hours, the required BESS for 22 kilowatts by six hours, assuming we take a safe margin, is 132 kilowatt-hours. A 150 kilowatt-hour LFP battery cabinet occupies roughly two square metres and fits in a corner of the existing electrical room or rooftop.

That is the load profile for the flat itself. At the same time, with solar generation, the battery charges during the day. When utility fails, an automatic transfer switch with less than 50 millisecond transition seamlessly hands over to BESS. Smart power management controllers shed non-essential loads within 200 milliseconds, preserving stored energy for essential functions.

The deployment of BESS can be done even on an apartment basis. In other words, every unit apartment will have a secondary power, which is another set of batteries, to ensure that every unit will run when the power fails. Like how every unit has a bomb shelter, now each unit has a BESS solution to power the apartment during emergency or power disruption situations. This will have a separate calculation for internal use.

Element three: now that you have the solar power and the battery, comes the control system. Smart power management and load shedding.

A building energy controller (BEC) monitors real-time state of charge, solar generation and load priority. It uses Modbus Transmission Control Protocol or other forms of protocols to communicate with smart breakers and sub-metres. The priority levels will look at:

Level 1: critical, always powered. For lifts, fire systems, water pumps, corridor emergency lighting and security cameras; and

Level 2: non-essential, shed immediately on outage. For air conditioners, water heaters, non-critical office equipment and electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

Residents would receive an SMS or app notification: "Grid failure detected. Your block is on battery back-up. Non-essential load has been temporarily disabled. Lifts and water pumps remain operational." Transparency builds trust.

Part four, from individual blocks to microgrids. Multiply this model. One HDB block becomes energy-independent for essential loads, but the real leap occurs when we interconnect neighbouring blocks, commercial buildings and industrial facilities into a local microgrid.

I will give you an example of the MacPherson constituency microgrid. There are 80 HDB blocks with a total of 12 megawatt-hour batteries, 20 commercial shophouses with about one megawatt-hour and five light industrial buildings with another one megawatt-hour. The total constituency storage is 14 megawatt-hour. The total solar generation potential is 25 megawatt-peak.

These assets communicate via a microgrid controller. When utility power fails, the controller islanded the constituency from the main grid. Each block runs on its own battery initially. For longer outages beyond four to six hours, the microgrid controller enables peer-to-peer energy sharing. A block with surplus battery transfers power to a block running low. A commercial building with a large rooftop array shares solar generation with nearby residential blocks.

This is not theoretical. Similar microgrids operate today in various countries such as the US, Italy, China and many others. The technology is mature.

Part five, scaling nation-wide. Every constituency, a power island. Scale this design to every constituency – Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Tanjong Pagar, Jurong, Sengkang and beyond. Each constituency becomes a grid-forming island, capable of operating independently for eight to 24 hours without mainland utility power.

If I were to summarise a national technical summary, that is approximately 10,000 HDB blocks with a total distributed BESS capacity of 1.5 gigawatt-hours and additional commercial and industrial BESS of about two gigawatt-hours. The national distributed storage is 3.5 gigawatt-hours, the equivalent to the output of a 500 megawatt gas plant running for seven hours. The total rooftop solar is around 1.5 gigawatt-peak potential across all suitable surfaces.

This distributed architecture provides what no central plant can – inherent redundancy. A failure in one block affects only that block. A failure in one constituency does not cascade to another. Cyber attacks are localised. Physical damage is contained.

Part six, economic and operational benefits.

First, fuel savings. Diesel gensets cost approximately $0.40 to $0.60 per kilowatt-hour to operate, plus the cost of maintenance. With the current conflict in the Middle East, these prices have soared even higher. Solar plus BESS, amortised over 15 years, costs $0.15 to $0.25 per kilowatt-hour for back-up power.

Second, grid services. These distributed BESS assets, when not used for back-up, can provide frequency regulation and peak shaving to the main grid. It is not only for power back-up, it can also be used for peak shaving. EMA could aggregate them as a virtual power plant (VPP), generating revenue that offsets capital costs.

Third, faster recovery. After a major outage, central plants require hours to resynchronise. A microgrid restores power locally in milliseconds. Lifts restart immediately. Water pumps resume. Elderly residents on upper floors are not stranded, nor will they be in the dark.

Fourth, climate alignment. BESS with solar produces zero operational emissions. Every kilowatt-hour of diesel displaced reduces CO² by approximately 2.7 kilogrammes. Nationally, this could cut 200,000 tonnes annually, the equivalent of removing 60,000 cars from our roads.

The last part, part seven, implementation pathway, practical and phased. I propose a three-phase roll-out.

Phase 1, 12 months. Pilot in one constituency – Macpherson or Sengkang. Deploy solar plus BESS on 30 HDB blocks, integrate with microgrid controller and run parallel to the grid for one year. Collect real-world performance, load data and resident feedback.

Phase 2, 24 months. Scale to five constituencies. Refine smart loading algorithms, integrate with main grid control room and establish VPP (Virtual Power Plant) dispatch protocols.

Phase 3, 36 to 48 months. Nationwide rollout. Every HDB block, every major commercial building, every industrial facility. Mandate new buildings to include solar-ready roofs and BESS-ready electrical rooms.

Even though we have somewhat approximate figures for the capital cost for the above, but it is best we compute thoroughly. I believe the ability to ensure the reliability of power for all residents during grid failure is immeasurable.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Singapore prides itself on being a first world nation with world-class infrastructure. But our energy architecture remains a 20th century central model in a 21st century risk environment. We cannot rely solely on imported gas, central plants and diesel generators that fail when we need them most.

The solution exists. It is proven. It is clean. And it can be built block by block, constituency by constituency, without waiting for a crisis to force our hand.

I urge the Ministry to review and approve the establishment of a multi-agency task force, including the Energy Market Authority (EMA), HDB, the Building and Construction Authority and industry experts, to pilot the first constituency-scale microgrid with solar and BESS. I offer my engineering experience to that effort without reservation.

Let us not wait for the next blackout to remind us what resilience means. Let us build it now.

Mr Speaker: Minister of State Gan Siow Huang.

9.11 pm

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Gan Siow Huang): Mr Speaker, I thank hon Member Azhar Othman for his energising Adjournment Motion.

The power grid is like the backbone of our body. It holds the system together, connecting power generation sources and end-consumers. The Government recognises the importance of having a resilient and reliable grid to power our economy and our daily lives.

A key factor underpinning our grid's resilience is its interconnectedness. The grid is connected to all our power stations. If any generating unit were to trip, other generating units can ramp up to meet the shortfall. The transmission and distribution network itself is also designed with some redundancy to minimise the impact in the event of any single equipment failure.

We recognise that a centralised grid also means that upstream disruptions such as interruptions to fuel supply may have system-wide consequences. That is why we have diversified our sources of gas supplies and maintain fuel reserves in case of disruptions.

Mr Speaker, we take our power system reliability very seriously. Singapore has one of the most reliable electricity grids in the world today. In 2025, the average power interruption time was less than one minute per customer on mainland Singapore and the average frequency of interruptions was about 0.02 times per customer. I would like to thank EMA, SP Group, and power generation companies (gencos) for the hard work that their engineers and workers put in tirelessly to achieve this.

As we introduce more distributed energy resources and renewables such as solar, the grid design will become even more important.

On the supply side, our energy mix will become more diverse as we scale up domestic solar and electricity imports. We will have more distributed energy resources across the island such as rooftop solar panels and battery energy storage systems. Specifically for solar, power generation fluctuates with cloud cover and weather in the daytime. At night, there is no solar electricity. The intermittency brings new challenges to the system.

On the demand side, Singapore's electricity demand is expected to increase significantly with the growth of electricity-intensive loads such as data centres and electric vehicles. There will be a greater impetus to manage load profiles to optimise usage of grid capacity.

We therefore need to accelerate grid innovation to build a more responsive grid while ensuring system stability and optimising land use. Let me set out what we are already doing.

First, we are planning ahead and putting the required infrastructure in place to support the grid of the future. EMA and SP Group developed the Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap last year to chart a clear direction for building new capabilities.

One concrete outcome is the upcoming SP Technology Laboratory, which will focus on developing new tools and solutions for grid planning and operations. This is essentially the research and development arm that will help keep Singapore's grid ahead of the curve.

Beyond planning, we are also deploying new physical assets to make the grid more resilient. Sembcorp's large-scale battery energy storage system on Jurong Island is one example. It can respond quickly to sudden shifts in supply, helping to keep the system stable when renewable energy sources like solar fluctuate.

Second, we are making the grid more flexible and responsive to change. With more solar, batteries and electric vehicles coming online, the grid needs to be able to handle greater variability in both supply and demand. Flexibility is what allows the grid to absorb those fluctuations without compromising stability.

EMA's Demand-side Flexibility Roadmap sets out how this will work in practice. Essentially, EV charging stations and smaller battery storage systems can participate in helping to stabilise the grid. For instance, by drawing less power or releasing stored energy when the system is under stress. EMA is currently piloting this with ComfortDelGro to test how it works in a real-world setting.

EMA will also launch a Virtual Power Plant pilot. Virtual Power Plants are digital platforms that can aggregate and optimise distributed energy resources such as solar and batteries as a single power source to meet demand.

Mr Azhar raised the idea of deploying off-grid and micro-grid power systems across Singapore to support grid resilience and also to serve as backup power in the event of potential disruptions. I thank him for sharing his knowledge and ideas.

Indeed, microgrids are one of several distributed energy solutions that we will study further. If managed well, such distributed energy solutions have the potential to provide an additional layer of safeguard by providing energy, ancillary services, or demand response to smoothen peak periods. However, their suitability depends on the operating environment and specific needs, provided the safety requirements and technical standards are met.

Mr Azhar suggested the possibility of deploying battery energy storage systems in HDB blocks and microgrids in every town. We will have to study this further, because high power battery systems also have to comply with the Singapore Civil Defence Force's fire safety standards, which could require additional space and safety infrastructure in densely populated HDB blocks.

Microgrid deployment also comes with real challenges. They could cost more to operate than larger grid systems and may offer lower power reliability if they lack sufficient reserves and redundancies. To be clear, this is not insurmountable. As technology matures and deployment models evolve, we expect many of these challenges to become more manageable over time.

Today, microgrids are deployed in Singapore, primarily to support test-bedding of new technologies and in places where there are specific needs.

The Singapore Institute of Technology has collaborated with SP Group to develop Singapore’s first experimental urban micro-grid on campus. The micro-grid will support test-bedding of new technologies and solutions in a controlled environment, while providing students the opportunity to work with industry partners and energy startups.

In addition, decentralised off-grid energy solutions are commonly deployed by commercial and industrial users. Facilities with critical loads, such as data centres, may invest in on-site generation, battery storage or hybrid systems to enhance reliability, based on their specific needs and constraints.

Diesel generators are an off-grid solution that is being used today. They are typically deployed as localised back-up for individual facilities, such as hospitals and data centres, to continue running their essential operations in the event of power disruption. A battery energy storage system is an alternative source of back-up power, although the upfront cost of deploying battery energy storage system is currently still higher than for diesel generators at the same power setting. A battery energy storage system also needs to be recharged, unlike diesel generators. As batteries become more cost-competitive, we expect more end-users to deploy batteries as off-grid solutions, if it meets their operational requirements and as a way of lowering their emissions.

Mr Azhar asked about the Pulau Ubin Micro Grid. The Pulau Ubin Micro-Grid was launched in 2013 as an R&D testbed to reduce reliance on diesel for power generation on the island. It is powered by solar PV, supported by a battery energy storage system and diesel generators, and serves about 30 residential and business consumers. Some system reliability issues have surfaced in recent years, and the micro-grid operator, EDP Renewables, is working to upgrade the system to enhance its overall reliability.

We will continue to study how micro-grids and other distributed energy resources can complement our existing measures to support Singapore's energy resilience. As we do so, we welcome partnerships with the industry on innovative new solutions that can be applied in Singapore, be it on micro-grids or other aspects of grid planning, development, and operations.

Last year, EMA launched the Energy Grid 3.0 Grant Call. Research consortia were invited to submit proposals aimed at enhancing grid planning and operations capabilities, as well as solutions to manage new needs such as inertia. EMA will publish the results of the grant call soon.

This year, the Government has set aside $800 million under the Decarbonisation Grand Challenge, to support research and innovation in low-carbon technologies. This includes energy storage systems and grid modernisation. These efforts reflect our commitment to building a resilient and innovative grid, and we look forward to more impactful and transformative partnerships with industry on this front.

Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to ensuring Singapore’s power system remains resilient and reliable as we navigate the energy transition. We will continue to invest in grid innovation, study developments from around the world, and work closely with industry and researchers to deploy suitable, cost-effective solutions for Singapore. Together, we will build a strong backbone that powers Singapore's future.

Mr Speaker: Mr Azhar Othman. We just have a few more minutes before time.

9.22 pm

Mr Azhar Othman: Thank you, Speaker. I just want to thank Minister of State Gan for the sharing about the strategy. Just a couple of comments, if I can.

One is that, yes, we go into data centres, it is a highly huge power guzzler, typically about 70 MW to 100 MW per centre, and they are running on diesel as a back-up. So, this is something we may look into closely because that would create another set of carbon emission.

Having said that, on a final point, the micro-grid itself is just another, I would call it a, if you look at the highway, it is just another road, path, for every commuter to use as well. On that note, thank you so much.

Mr Speaker: Minister of State Gan Siow Huang. Do you want to respond?

Ms Gan Siow Huang: I want to thank Mr Azhar Othman on his comments. I fully agree that data centres, they are energy guzzlers. In fact, data centres are also actively looking for alternative solutions that are more sustainable. Electricity imports, hopefully, if we can get that coming, using renewable energy sources. That will give some alternative to the data centres. Of course, batteries, solar, these will also be options that data centres can consider.

And micro-grids, as the Member said, are additional augmentations to complement our existing grid and we certainly would want to keep this in view as we develop our grid of the future.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn."

Mr Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 2(3)(a), I wish to inform hon Members that the Sitting tomorrow will commence at 11.00 am. Order. Order.

Adjourned accordingly at 9.24 pm.