The next time you on the trains, be sure to look out for solar panels fitted on the roof of flats. The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has announced plans for installing more solar panels to HDB flats.
The aim of solar panels on Singapore housing flats is to develop a solar capacity of producing 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) by 2030, which is on par with powering about 135,000 four-room flats with clean energy, over the next 10 years.
At the moment, HDB has surpassed its target of 220 megawatt-peak (MWp), which is the same as powering 55,000 four-room flats, by 2020.
The new target set for 2030 will be achieved through the installation of solar panels across more HDB blocks. The use of new technologies which allow for more solar energy to be produced from the same amount of space on HDB rooftops.
The new target set also ties in with Singapore’s aim of cutting down on carbon emissions at 324,000 tonnes per year. The government aims to increase its overall solar capacity to at least 2 gigawatt-peak (GWp) by 2030, as part of its efforts for fighting climate change.
HDB has provided a tender for solar panels to be put in place across 1,154 HDB blocks and 46 government sites. Some of these sites include schools. If possible, it aims to install solar panels on an estimated 10,000 blocks.
The figures of this tender will produce 60 MWp of solar energy across the nation.
It will be implemented under the HDB and Economic Development Board (EDB)’s SolarNova programme. This programme was launched in 2014 to encourage the use of solar energy and understand the demands of it amongst different agencies, so as to reap the economies of scale.
Currently, six agencies are a part of this tender. These agencies include the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), who are first-time participants.
HDB, at the moment, plays the biggest part in pushing for the use of solar energy in Singapore.
By 2023, the first installation of the solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is set to be completed. In December alone, an estimated 2,060 HDB blocks have been fitted with solar panels and installation at another 2,500 blocks were on the way.
Solar energy has been used for powering lifts, lights and water pumps at these blocks. They have been able to attain net-zero energy consumption in common areas. This translates to the building producing more energy than it consumes. The excess energy is then transferred back to Singapore’s electrical grid.
More efficient solar panels have been used for the implementation of the SolarNova programme, where the panels can now convert 20 percent of sunlight to electricity. The previously used panels could convert just 16 percent of sunlight. This upgrade has allowed for areas such as rooftop spaces such as point blocks and partially shaded areas to now be equipped with solar panels.
Cheong Koon Hean, HDB Chief Executive said, “We will continue to amplify our solar efforts as our nation pushes towards its next milestone to generate more clean energy and help combat climate change.”