Energy in Singapore

Energy in Singapore describes energy related issues in Singapore, which is a developed country located in eastern Asia. Energy exports to others are about three times the primary energy supplied in the country itself. Additionally, oil imports in relation to the population demands of the country itself are concerningly high.

Singapore electricity production by source

The world's largest palm oil company, Wilmar International, is based in Singapore, due to vast amount of forestation available for harvesting many products that rely on palm oil. A Finnish company operates the world's biggest palm oil-based diesel plant in Singapore with 800,000 tonnes produced annually since the end of 2010.

Overview
Energy consumption by source, Singapore
Energy in Singapore[1]
Population
(million)		 Prim. energy
(TWh)		 Production
(TWh)		 Import
(TWh)		 Electricity
(TWh)		 CO2-emission
(Mt)
20044.24298054834.638.1
20074.59311062839.145.0
20084.84215065039.644.3
20095.0215068539.744.8
20125.23881191943.664.8
2012R5.312917.082346.249.8
20135.403047.485547.746.6
Change 2004–0917.7%-27.8%0%25.1%14.5%17.8%
Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses

2012R = CO2 calculation criteria changed, numbers updated

According to the IEA Singapore had no energy production in 2008. Energy imports increased 18.6% in 2008 compared to 2004. The primary energy declined by about one third in 2007-8 but during the same period energy imports increased. Energy import was about three times the total primary energy supply in 2008. Compared to the UK in 2008, per capita electricity consumption was 135% and per capita carbon dioxide emissions were 110%. (UK: 61.35 m people 372.19 TWh electricity, 510.63Mt CO2 emissions).[2]

The use of energy (primary energy) in Singapore is only 1/3 of the imported energy.

Oil

Singapore was the top 10th country in oil imports in 2008: 50 megatonnes. For comparison, oil imports in Spain were 77 megatonnes (the top 8th country, with a population of 45.59 million) and in Italy they were 73 megatonnes (the top 9th country, with a population of 59.89 million).[3]

Palm oil

The biggest palm oil-based diesel plant in the world, 800,000 t/a production, started operations in Singapore at the end of 2010 by Neste Oil from Finland.[4] The plant requires almost a million tonnes of raw material annually from the oil palm Elaeis guineensis, equivalent to 2,600–3,400 km2 oil palm plantation.

Greenpeace demonstrated in November 2010 in Espoo, Finland, by hanging an orangutan puppet in front of Neste Oil, saying that Neste Oil endangers the rainforest ecosystem. According to UNEP the majority of new palm oil plantations take place in the rainforests.[5]

Multiple containers of palm oil.

According to European Union studies the increased demand for palm oil inevitably leads to new plantations being established in the forests and peat land areas. Land use changes have large green house gas emissions making palm oil diesel much more harmful than petroleum in respect to global warming. According to Greenpeace the Neste Oil plant in Singapore made Finnish Neste Oil among the world's leading palm oil consumers leading to increased rain forest destruction.[6]

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) would be a way to mitigate climate change. According to UNEP the international REDD mechanism will be a key element of [[Post–Kyoto Protocol negotiations on greenhouse gas emissions|the post-2012 international climate change]] regime.[7]

Electricity
Singapore electricity production by source
Senoko Power Station, the largest power station in Singapore
Main article: List of power stations in Singapore

The electricity sector in Singapore ranges from generation, transmission, distribution and retailing of electricity in Singapore.

Electricity sector in Singapore is regulated by the Energy Market Authority (Chinese: 新加坡能源管理局).

As of 2015, Singapore uses natural gas (95%) and waste (4%) for power stations' fuel. Oil used to contribute 23% in 2005 but now is down to 1%.[8] The fossil fuel basis of Singapore's electricity system affects the way that electric cars are taxed.[9][10]

Companies

Solar power

Jurong Port is building a 10MW solar installation on the roofs of its warehouses. The system was expected online by the end of 2015.[11] Singapore set a target of generating solar power to cover 350,000 households in 2030 that would correspond to 4% of the country's electricity demand in 2020.[12] To promote renewable energy in the country it is advised that the government develops incentive and regulatory support mechanism; consolidate solar energy governance; mobilise equity investors and lenders; and specialise in the long-distance trade of renewable energy, especially in the form of hydrogen.[12]

In July 2021 Sembcorp opened one of the world's largest floating solar plants, with 60 MWs of panels on a reservoir.[13]

Given Singapore's leading position as a financial hub in the ASEAN region, it could maximise its role to promote clean energy investment throughout the entire region.[14] The Australia–ASEAN Power Link is being considered to import 2.2 GW of solar from Northern Territory.

Companies

Wilmar International

Wilmar International is listed in Singapore. Headed by Kuok Khoon Hong, it is the world's largest palm oil firm. Kuok was the third richest person in Singapore in 2009 with a net worth of $3.5 billion.[15] According to Finnwatch in 2007 the Kuok family owned by Malaysian companies a biofuel plant in Indonesia (225 000 t/a).[16] The Wilmar director Martua Sitorus ($3 billion net worth in 2009, 2nd richest in Indonesia) lived in Indonesia in 2009.[17]

In July 2007 Friends of the Earth Netherlands and two Indonesian NGOs accused Wilmar of illegal forest clearances in West Kalimantan, inadequate Environmental Impact Assessments and clearing land outside its concessions. Wilmar denies the allegation. The report calls on Unilever, a major purchaser from Wilmar, to review its purchasing relationship with the company.[18]

Carbon dioxide emissions

Singapore was the 58th top carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter per capita in the world.

References
  1. IEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015 Archived 13 March 2016 at WebCite, 2014 (2012R as in November 2015 Archived 5 May 2015 at WebCite + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013 Archived 2 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, 2012 Archived 9 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 2011 Archived 27 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 2010 Archived 11 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, 2009 Archived 7 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 2006 Archived 12 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15
  2. IEA Key energy statistics 2010 Archived 11 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine Page: 23, 52, 54 56
  3. IEA Key energy statistics 2010 Archived 11 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine Page: 23, 52, 54, 56
  4. Neste Oil rakentaa Singaporeen maailman suurimman biodieseltehtaan yle 30 November 2007 (in Finnish)
  5. The last stand: State of emergency: Illegal logging, fire and palm oil in Indonesia’s national parks of the orangutan Archived 1 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine UNEP 2007
  6. Neste Oilin Singaporen laitos kiihdyttää sademetsätuhoa, Greenpeace 15 November 2010
  7. Environmental Governance UNEP pages 53–63 pdf: 6-Environmental_Governance_UNEP_YearBook_09_low[1].pdf
  8. Singapore opts for cleaner energy sources
  9. Tesla Model S owner protests Singapore's carbon emissions surcharge
  10. Tesla boss calls PM Lee over CO2 levy
  11. Shipping Port Gets Super-Sized Rooftop Solar System, Forbes, William Pentland, 17 January 2015
  12. Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. and Yurnaidi, Z. 2020. Singapore: How to Attract More Investment in Renewable Energy? ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Policy Brief Series, No 11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341794179
  13. Lin, Chen (14 July 2021). "Singapore unveils one of the world's biggest floating solar panel farms". Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  14. Overland, Indra; Sagbakken, Haakon Fossum; Chan, Hoy-Yen; Merdekawati, Monika; Suryadi, Beni; Utama, Nuki Agya; Vakulchuk, Roman (December 2021). "The ASEAN climate and energy paradox". Energy and Climate Change. 2: 100019. doi:10.1016/j.egycc.2020.100019. hdl:11250/2734506.
  15. Singapore's 40 Richest No. 3 Kuok Khoon Hong Forbes 2009
  16. Palmuöljystä biopolttoainetta FinnWatch / Niko Humalisto 2006
  17. Martua Sitorus on Indonesia's 40 Richest (2009) Forbes 2 December 2009
  18. Losing land to palm oil in Kalimantan bbc 3 August 2007
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