Straits Times 22 Nov 09;
Every month, Mr Tan Chee Kiang spends $2,000 on electricity.
He depends on three generators to crank out the power to run his seafood store and a provision shop on Pulau Ubin.
The generators have to be topped up with diesel every few days, and run all day to keep the seafood fresh.
He also has a fourth generator on hand, just in case.
'It is rather inconvenient but that's the way things have always been on Pulau Ubin. If the Government could bring in electricity for us, it would be much better,' he said.
His wish will soon become a reality for the residents.
The Energy Market Authority is calling for clean energy companies to propose plans for an intelligent power grid to be set up on Ubin in a year or two.
This will be a test bed for harnessing electricity from a variety of renewable power sources. At present, all 100 residents and businesses on Ubin use diesel-powered generators.
Leadership development centre Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) has three generators - two for daily needs and the third as a back-up.
There are no street lamps on the island, residents said.
Ubin does not draw electricity from the country's main power grid because it is too expensive to lay transmission cables to meet such low demand.
However, the use of generators, which may cost more than $10,000 each, can be inconvenient.
Said student Jas Koh, 16, who helps out at her aunt's bicycle rental shop: 'If we want to use the bike-washing machine, we have to turn off the fridge or the system will be overloaded. We also have to keep buying big canisters of oil.'
This is why residents are cheering news of the power grid.
Madam Tan Cheng Soon, 85, who runs a small provision shop, pays a neighbour about $100 a month to use his generator for a few hours a day.
She said: 'It powers my lights and radio at night, but sometimes, it gets spoilt and it can be very dark.'
Cheong Lian Yuen restaurant owner Zhou Ying, who is in her 70s, said: 'The generators can also be very noisy. I would be very happy if we finally get some electricity.'
On the matter of renewable energy, at least one agency, the National Parks Board, has relied on it in Ubin since 2006.
Said a spokesman: 'The information kiosk and toilets at four activity areas are operating fully on sustainable energy systems which utilise solar panels and back-up batteries.
'Previously, they ran on diesel generator systems. The overall savings is estimated to be about $150,000 per year.'
Others are also keen to join in the effort.
Said a spokesman for OBS: 'If feasible, we can also explore being a part of this clean energy project.'
Shuli Sudderuddin
Related post
Powering up Pulau Ubin: what wild effects? on the wild shores of singapore blog.
