Off the coast of Singapore, an island is becoming a full-scale laboratory for the deployment of an autonomous energy network, a multi-energy microgrid - and hydrogen is a key element.
When it comes to electricity we are not all in the same boat. According to the International Energy Agency, 1.2 billion human beings, in other words 17 % of the world's population, mainly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, do not have access to electricity! Of course we must remedy this situation, but without neglecting the climatic and environmental issues that impose, at an international level, the transition towards the massive use of renewable energies. This new vision of the energy mix, which by nature often integrates intermittent sources, invites us to reconsider our plans and to shift towards an increasingly decentralized distribution system. In this respect, drawing on local resources to limit the transport of fossil fuels is a key aspect for remote sites.
1 : The linchpin of the SPORE microgrid is Semakau Island's wind turbine. © ENGIE
Within this framework microgrids provide the best solution. These small, independent networks collect and distribute decentralized, locally produced energy. They are particularly well suited to meeting electrification needs in South-East Asia, where there is a high degree of insularity and an infrastructure that is sometimes limited. Indeed it is often impossible to connect islands to the national grid. WELCOME TO SEMAKAU In these so-called off-grid regions, i.e. not connected to the national grid, microgrids provide a reliable and sustainable solution. What is at stake is managing energy supply (electricity, wind and solar power and biogas etc), connectivity and grid stability, whilst taking into account the characteristics of the various constituent parts of the microgrid, e.g. storage and production units, user demand and questions of mobility. A solution of this type is being installed on Semakau Island, which lies eight kilometers off the coast of Singapore. Covering a land area of two square kilometers (21.53 million square feet), Semakau is currently used as a landfill site for ashes from Singapore's waste incineration plant. Part of the area has been allocated to Nanyang Technological University's Energy Research Institute (ERIAN) so that it can pilot the REIDS initiative (Renewable Energy Integration Demonstrator - Singapore), a major project dedicated to the development of the world's largest microgrid demonstrator in the tropics. REIDS is backed by Singapore EDB (Economic Development Board) and the NEA (National Environment Agency), two of the country's most influential governmental entities. ENGIE Lab Singapore, ENGIE's local expertise center, is developing an innovative microgrid - SPORE (Sustainable Powering of Off-Grid Regions) - on the island in partnership with Schneider Electric. So what is the current state of play in terms of the installation? In addition to solar panels and an Ineo battery, a crucial milestone was reached with the erection of the Xant wind turbine in October 2017, the highest in Singapore, which was especially designed for an off-grid configuration. Another major event was the delivery of a McPhy hydrogen refueling station and a Symbio FCell hydrogen car. The latter is part of a complete, so-called power-to-power hydrogen chain, which will be implemented on the island in the future and entirely connected to the microgrid.
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