Key data
Commissioning: in 2023
Partners: Energy Market Authority; National Parks Board (NParks); Schneider Electric; VFlowTech; Singapore Institute of Technology
Location: Pulau Ubin island in the North-East of Singapore
About the project
Located in Pulau Ubin, an island in the North-East of Singapore, a microgrid testbed was first installed in 2013, powering the island with diesel generators. EDP Renewables APAC, with the support of Singapore’s National Parks Board and the Energy Market Authority, has now enhanced the system with renewables, while also testing new technologies. The only off-grid microgrid in Singapore powered by rooftop solar now has an expanded solar PV capacity, increased efficiency, and also a Vanadium Redox Flow Energy Storage Battery System.
Accelerating decarbonisation for the local community through innovation
The enhanced micro-grid now includes a 328 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic system together with a 1 Megawatt-hour (MWh) Energy Storage System (ESS).
The implementation of these green innovations marks a step towards Singapore’s sustainability agenda, contributing to the broader national goal of environmental stewardship and energy security.
There are potential plans soon to extend this microgrid solution to other areas outside of Pulau Ubin’s Main Village. These are still in the works of being finalized.
Welcome to Pulau Ubin
Key innovative solutions of the project
Two major innovative green solutions can be highlighted:
The first one is the Solar Green Roof, which involves planting different types of greenery below the solar panels. This helps to regulate the temperature in the surrounding environment and can improve the efficiency of the solar panels by up to 4%.
The second solution is the deployment of a 1 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRB) ESS to increase the reliability of the electricity sourced from the Solar Green Roof. The ESS helps to mitigate solar variability and ensures the consistent operation of the grid by actively managing any mismatches in supply and demand. Notably, when compared to lithium-ion batteries, vanadium-based batteries offer a longer lifespan of up to 25 years and present a significant reduction in fire hazard as Vanadium is not flammable.
Innovative Solutions
Compared to lithium-ion batteries, vanadium-based batteries have a longer lifespan. Additionally, the core metal used in VRB construction can be reused and repurposed at the end od its lifespan, leading to a further reduction in wast generation.
The new 328kWp Solar PV System produces clean, renewable energy and relies on the plants and foliage of the green roof to regulate ambient temperatures, optimizing panel efficiency.
Vanadium Redox Flow batteries, the size of 40ft containers, help to mitigate solar intermittency and ensure the consistent operation of the grid by actively managing any mismatches in supply and demand.
System benefits
The enhanced system will benefit more than 30 households and businesses, reducing the island’s reliance on diesel by nearly 100,000 litres per annum, avoiding 268,000 kgs of CO2 emissions.
EDPR APAC greenifies
Pulau Ubin’s Micro-grid
Learn more about Pulau Ubin’s Micro-grid and other innovative projects led by EDP Renewables APAC that promote access to clean, reliable and affordable energy for all.
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