Don't rule out nuclear power for Singapore, says expert panel

Shobana Kesava, Straits Times 4 Nov 08;

ELECTRIC vehicles, a smart power grid and even nuclear power for Singapore may some day form part of the country's evolving energy strategy.

These suggestions and others made by the high-powered International Advisory Panel on Energy, which is meeting for the first time, will now be studied by the Singapore Government.

The panel was set up by the Trade and Industry Ministry to examine the country's current energy policies, and find the balance between energy security, economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

Thirteen industrialists, government advisers and international experts in the energy industry were invited to come up with possible solutions.

At a press conference yesterday, panel chairman S. Iswaran, who is Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said: 'These are not ideas which we will see implemented in six or 12 months, but will have a bearing on how we position Singapore to create more opportunities to be a leading example, particularly in climate change.'

Among the nine who attended the meeting were Lord John Mogg, chairman of the British Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, and president of the Council of European Energy Regulators; Mr Michael Dolan, senior vice-president at ExxonMobil; and former United States government advisers, including Ms Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change.

The idea of a smart grid for distribution of electricity was strongly recommended, as the investment would be affordable.

Lord Mogg said: 'The UK has spent billions of pounds to deal with over 60 million people.

'Singapore will be able to adapt without this kind of expenditure for its relatively small grid, dealing with 4.5 million, developing an efficient system where the demand side can play a role in building an efficient system.'

The idea of electric transport was strongly recommended by the panel, said Mr Peter Schwartz, chairman of Global Business Network, whose work in climate change spans three decades.

'From a technological and industrial point of view, moving towards electric transport would be a significant opportunity. But the question of where the electricity will come from to power those vehicles remains,' he said.

The question was raised by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whom the panel met during their two-day meeting in Singapore. They also met Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

The panel said nuclear research, and even a nuclear power plant, could not be dismissed from Singapore's range of long-term solutions.

Dr John Deutch, Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: 'There's no reason such a carbon-free power station could not be operated safely here.'

The panel will next meet in 2010.

Electric cars, buses among ideas to energise Singapore
International panel of experts offers future direction to the energy sector
Ronnie Lim, Business Times 4 Nov 08;

ELECTRIFICATION of transport here, including cars and buses, possible use of alternatives like solar and nuclear energy, financing of pilot energy initiatives and tapping the available talent here for energy R&D - these were among the many ideas for Singapore from a specially enlisted group of international energy experts.

'It has given us food for thought on how to position Singapore, and to see how we can leverage and think through some of these ideas,' S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said yesterday.

The suggestions - coming amid high energy prices, heightened energy security concerns and greater climate change awareness - emerged from a two-day inaugural meeting of MTI's International Advisory Panel (IAP) on Energy this week.

The IAP was set up to provide insight and perspectives on emerging global energy trends, and to advise on the strategic directions for the energy sector here. This will help prepare and enable Singapore to meet the challenges and also leverage on opportunities that are emerging.

Chaired by Mr Iswaran, the panel comprises 13 international experts from various fields, including Claude Mandil, the former executive director of the International Energy Agency; Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of India's Reliance Industries; and Yousef Omair, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

The panel members also had separate discussions with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Apart from new suggested initiatives, Mr Iswaran told a press conference that the IAP also validated some of the current strategies of Singapore's inter-ministry Energy Policy Group, saying that the move to import liquefied natural gas was a step in the right direction, as it helps diversify gas sources and provides energy security.

Besides, natural gas, used to generate 80 per cent of Singapore's electricity, is also a clean fuel.

The panel also endorsed Singapore's adoption of energy efficiency in power generation, industry, transport, buildings and households.

But it can still do more, like for example, exploring how to adapt its power grid infrastructure to facilitate innovations - like having smaller generation companies - for more optimal use and supply of energy, suggested John Mogg, chairman of the UK Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.

Another IAP suggestion was that Singapore could develop energy financing for pilot alternative energy projects to help bring these to commercialisation eventually. This way, Singapore could tap into new aspects of the energy paradigm, said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Centre on Global Climate Change.

The IAP's inaugural meeting coincided with Singapore Energy Week which kicked off yesterday evening.

Speaking at the welcoming dinner, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang announced the establishment of a new Energy Research and Development Fund by the Energy Market Authority.

The S$25 million fund, to be spent over the next five years, will provide financial support to interested parties, aimed at developing capabilities and knowledge for new energy solutions, he said.