HDB plans to extend the use of the floating system for offshore solar panels, Environment News & Top Stories



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SINGAPORE – In the Singapore Peninsula, the search for more solar energy will soon go further.

The Housing Board (HDB) – one of the agencies that lead the country's efforts to increase solar energy use – is targeting a new area of ​​research: the sea.

On Sunday (July 8th), HDB announced the signing of a research collaboration with a landscaping company next week for the study and development of a floating solar system for coastal marine conditions .

The study, says HDB, would see how its floating system can withstand harsher environmental conditions in the sea, such as stronger winds and waves.

Cheong Koon Hean He said that during the past decade, the agency has been at the forefront of solar initiatives and has accelerated the adoption of solar in Singapore.

For example, solar panels were installed or installed in more than 2,400 HDB blocks in Singapore. By 2020, approximately 5,500 HDB blocks will be equipped or identified for solar installation.

The energy generated by these panels generally goes to common services such as elevators, water pumps and lighting for common areas.

While natural gas is considered the cleanest form of fossil fuel, its combustion still contributes to the production of greenhouse gases

. would reduce Singapore's reliance on fossil fuels. Its use is also consistent with the Republic's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

But given the small size of Singapore, there is a limit to the amount of renewable energy coming from solar panels installed on Earth. "One way to continue harvesting Singapore's solar energy is to look beyond the sky and the sea. It's a hands-on approach, given Singapore's land constraints," said Dr. Cheong

. the artificial waterway in Punggol to contain wetland plants, was then deployed to hold solar panels in a solar panel test bench in the Tengeh reservoir in Tuas in May this year.

The World Cities Summit, a sustainability conference to be held this week, will examine how the modular floating system designed by HDB can contain solar panels on the high seas.

Dr. Cheong said: "The HDB will collaborate more with the industry trying partners to explore the best way to extend the use of our offshore open system for solar deployment. "

Thomas Reindl, deputy general manager of the Singapore's Solar Energy Research Institute (Seris), said Singapore has: in theory, some areas where off-shore floating solar systems would be possible.

"Locations should have the right balance between the distance from the main island, to avoid long underwater cable connections, and other marine uses, such as "He added that it was too early to point to speci fi c locations ific. "

He added that apart from the action of waves, stronger currents and corrosivity of salt water. Another important factor to consider during the study would be biofouling – the growth of marine organisms such as barnacles – on floats.

"Singapore has some of the richest waters and vibrant marine life, hence the growth of barnacles and other marine life on the floats must be taken into account in the design and operation In addition, bird contamination could be a problem, as has been seen in near-shore solar installations, such as the test bench and Singapore systems in the UK, "said Dr. Reindl

. To test solar panels on the sea, other research projects are underway on the use of solar panels in interior water plans such as tanks.

The Tengeh Reservoir Test Bench is used to study performance and costs. the efficiency of 10 different solar PV systems, including the one using the HDB engineering system.

Separately, the National Water Agency PUB is studying how to add solar panels to four tanks to power its energy-intensive water treatment processes.

Dr. Reindl said, "Off-shore floating solar photovoltaic systems have great potential for Singapore, and theoretically there could be solar installations deployed in the surrounding waters and this could help speed up the deployment of the solar system. solar photovoltaic in the city.Sapand could set a trend in this area and become one of the largest users of this innovative technology worldwide. "

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