Singapore's first long-span wind turbine installed at Semakau Landfill

Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 17;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's first long-span wind turbine was installed at Semakau Landfill on Friday (Oct 20).

At 14 storeys high and with three 10.5-metre long-span rotor blades, the turbine can produce enough energy to power 45 four-room HDB units a year, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) said in a press release.

The wind turbine is also sensitive enough to generate power with wind speeds as low as 3 metres per second and up to a maximum of 20 metres per second.

“The deployment of Singapore’s first wind turbine is a big milestone in the nation’s commitment in developing clean energy technologies for the region," said Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU’s acting provost, chief of staff and vice president for research.

The new turbine is part of NTU's Renewable Energy Integration Demonstrator – Singapore (REIDS) initiative at Semakau Landfill, in partnership with French multinational electric utility company ENGIE.

Under this initiative, "hybrid microgrids" will also be developed in the next few years, producing enough energy to power 100 four-room HDB flats for a whole year according to NTU.

Hybrid microgrids combine renewable energy with conventional diesel- or gas-fuelled generation and energy storage capabilities, and aim to deliver clean, cost-effective electricity. These microgrids will integrate with various renewable energy sources such as solar, tidal, diesel and power-to-gas technologies, said NTU.

Each of the microgrids is expected to produce "stable and consistent power in the half-megawatt range, suitable for small islands, isolated residential areas, and emergency power supplies", the varsity added.

The first phase of the project saw the installation of a microgrid facility with more than 4,500 sq m of photovoltaic panels and a large-scale energy storage system.

This lithium-ion energy storage system can store up to 200kWh, similar to the monthly energy consumption of a two-room HDB unit, and will serve as a medium-term energy storage system.

The microgrids will eventually occupy more than 64,000 sq m - roughly nine soccer fields - of land. They can either be operated separately or function as a single power facility.

Managed by NTU’s Energy Research Institute, the REIDS initiative is expected to attract S$20 million worth of projects over the next four years, in addition to the initial S$10 million investment in infrastructure at the landfill.

Twelve new partners will be signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with REIDS during the 2017 Singapore International Energy Week, which will be held from Oct 23 to Oct 27, to advance the development and eventual deployment of microgrid solutions in the region, said NTU.

These include strong industry representation from both technology providers Emerson, EDF and Keppel, as well as technology adopters such as Medco, an Indonesian power conglomerate, Adaro, an Indonesian coal mining company and Nortis, a Thai independent power producer, it added.


Standing tall at 14 storeys, wind turbine at Pulau Semakau is Singapore's largest
Lim Min Zhang Straits Times 20 Oct 17;

SINGAPORE - The Republic's largest wind turbine was unveiled at Semakau Island on Friday (Oct 20), marking the first time the renewable energy source is connected to the island's power grid.

The turbine comes with three 10.5m long-span roto blades that produce an electrical output rating of 100 kilowatts, which is enough to power 45 four-room HDB flats.

It is part of the region's first large-scale, offshore power grid system, called the Renewable Energy Integration Demonstrator (Reids), an initiative by Nanyang Technological University.

The turbine is one of up to seven which will generate power for hybrid microgrids on the landfill south of Singapore, together with other sources such as photovoltaic (solar) panels, as part of Singapore's drive towards developing sustainable energy.

Said Professor Choo Fook Hoong of NTU's Energy Research Institute, which manages the initiative: "The role here is to look at renewable energy, integrating them into microgrids, so that it can benefit not only remote islands and villages (in the region), but also urban microgrids that will benefit Singapore in the longer term in terms of a more stable and resilient power supply."

The project, now in its second phase, is supported by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the National Environment Agency (NEA).

The first phase, which consisted of installing more than 4,500 sq m of photovoltaic panels, large-scale lithium-ion energy storage systems and a hydrogen refuelling station, has been completed.

NTU deploys Singapore’s first long-span wind turbine at Semakau Landfill

Although there is limited potential for wind turbines on the mainland, developing a mix of renewable energy sources is important because they each have their own advantages, said Prof Choo.

"When we look at renewable energy integration, we cannot rely entirely on photovoltaics because that will only work when the sun is out. Wind is different - you have wind at night as well... this allows us to have continuous power supply without having to increase the storage capacity, which is not that cheap today."

The turbine can generate power even with wind speeds as low as three metres per second, up to a maximum of 20 metres per second.

Several of the microgrids, which will eventually cover more than 64,000 sq m or about the size of nine football fields, will be built, and will produce enough energy each year to power 100 blocks of four-room HDB flats for the same period.

Long-span wind turbine at Semakau Landfill

International interest in the project has been growing, with 12 new partners expected to sign agreements with Reids at the Singapore International Energy Week next week (Oct23-27) to develop and eventually deploy microgrids in the region.

This means more than 20 companies that would have come on board, including founding members Engie, General Electric Grid Solutions and Schneider Electric.

Mr Goh Chee Kiong, executive director for cleantech at the Economic Development Board, said: "The strong presence of leading energy providers and adopters is testament to Reids' success in developing an ecosystem, to pilot and develop microgrid innovations from Singapore."