District cooling in Singapore has become integral to the country’s efforts to reach sustainability goals. As such, the quest for finding efficient cooling solutions that reduce carbon emissions and operational costs within these systems has gained increased momentum.
In February 2022, Singapore made the commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, a claim backed by the Energy Market Authority (EMA), which remarked this goal as “realistic”.
Among some of the key initiatives necessary to achieve such goals, district cooling represents an outstandingly efficient method that allows for a reduction in carbon emissions and cost savings, among other crucial advantages.
In this context, we take a look at the current landscape of district cooling systems in Singapore and the foreseeable trends in what is quickly becoming a pivotal component of the country’s sustainable development strategy.
Why district cooling in Singapore is critical for the energy transition
The following list of IEA figures from 2021 provides a look at the current energy landscape in Singapore:
- Electricity consumption per capita has increased 35% between 2000-2021
- The share of renewable energies is 2.9%
- Oil represents 70% of total energy supply; followed by natural gas (27%), and coal (1%)
At the same time, a report published by WWF mentions how cooling emissions are expected to rise to more than 40% of Singapore’s national greenhouse gas emissions by 2023, if no environmental measures are applied. Additionally, the same report cites how electricity demand for cooling in Singapore represented approximately 30% of Singapore’s total electricity demand in 2019. Again, projections see this demand growing by 66% between 2019-2030 if no measures are implemented.
In light of these figures, the case for district cooling in Singapore stands out for its capacity to align with the country’s vision for a sustainable and resilient future. As such, some of the benefits of district cooling include:
- Outstanding energy efficiency
- Carbon emission reductions
- Potential for renewable energy integration
- Operational cost savings
- Operational reliability
- Adaptation to urban environments
- High flexibility and capacities for peak load management thanks to the installation of thermal energy storage tanks
- Centralized infrastructure that prioritizes an efficient use of land and building space
Current landscape of district cooling in Singapore
District cooling in Singapore is rapidly evolving and showing a wide array of successful initiatives.
Perhaps the most outstanding of such initiatives is the Marina Bay District Cooling Network. Conceived as the world’s largest underground DC system, it has been calculated to be responsible for removing the equivalent of nearly 18,000 cars from the roads, or 19,439 tonnes of CO2 annually, all while providing the same cooling comfort.
Other successful initiatives are expected to enlarge this already huge project, including Suntec City (a major commercial hub), while Tampines will become the country’s first town center with district cooling at its core.
Additionally, the development of the district heating system in Ang Mo Kio is anticipated to break all records and become the largest network to date, with an expected capacity to reduce carbon emissions by up to to 120,000 tonnes per year.
Apart from the mere grandiose size of these initiatives, all signs point towards a continuous and fruitful market development when it comes to district cooling in Singapore. For instance, the country is introducing state-of-the-art solutions that increase cost savings and system reliability, including the incorporation of TES (Thermal Energy Storage) solutions.
On top of this, these initiatives are being met with generous support by funding institutions, such as the Energy Resilience Grant Call by EMA, which provided a total of S$15 million in grants in 2018 to seven energy innovations in Singapore.
Foreseeable trends for district cooling in Singapore
Further integrations with renewable energies
One of the key advantages of district cooling is its potential to incorporate renewable energies. As a consequence, this integration will presumably become increasingly important in the coming years.
Such is the case of solar thermal energy, which can provide a sustainable and efficient energy source for district cooling. Additionally, the incorporation of TES systems will help balance the intermittent nature of renewable energy, ensuring a steady supply of cooling throughout all scenarios.
Enhanced system control
District cooling plants in Singapore will mimic global developments in this area by incorporating smart control systems.
These technologies provide real-time optimization and advanced control all with the aim of ensuring maximum efficiency and reliability, with cost reduction and waste energy minimization being beneficial by-products.
As such, advanced capacities will include automated demand response programs that are able to adjust parameters based on grid conditions or available renewable energy, among others.
TES tanks
The increased adoption of TES tanks will bring district cooling systems in Singapore to the next level. In short, TES technologies allow for the storage of thermal energy during off-peak periods and its use during peak demand, enhancing overall system efficiency.
As these systems continue advancing, new levels of energy efficiency will be achieved, effectively reducing the strain on the electrical grid and enhancing the overall efficiency of energy use. This is particularly beneficial for a high-demand environment such as district cooling in Singapore, giving access to major reductions in operational costs (as thermal energy is stored when it is cheaper and used during peak times).
At the same time, this infrastructure will further boost the environmental benefits of district cooling, all while providing a buffer against energy supply disruptions and preventing unexpected outages.
The pursuit for ever-higher efficiency
Achieving higher efficiencies will remain a key driver and trend for district cooling plants in Singapore in the foreseeable future.
The truth is this quest for optimizing efficiency is not just an environmental necessity but also an economic imperative.
As we’ve seen above, the city-state has ambitious goals for reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing energy efficiency for the coming decades. As such, successful thermal innovations are expected in various fields: from advanced heat exchangers, to AI-driven predictive maintenance, and smart grid integration.
Among these innovations, the integration of advanced heat pump technologies stands out as particularly significant. These pieces of equipment, with ever-higher coefficients of performance (COPs) and variable-speed compressors, will allow for more efficient energy transfer and better adaptability to varying cooling demands.
Overall, the district cooling process is expected to undergo continuous optimizations driven by new technologies that will push the limits to new frontiers in what is considered as feasible today.
A rethink that addresses the main foundations of how cooling is understood, district cooling in Singapore has the potential for opening the door to positive energy districts. That is: urban areas that generate more energy from renewable sources than the energy that they consume.
Throughout the process, the right design protocols and thermal energy expertise will need to be incorporated. For instance, the right environmental considerations for district cooling will need to be taken into account, so that Singapore can access adequate formulas that match its specific resources.
All in all, it will be key to move away from ‘one-size-fits-all’ designs and look at the potential and limitations specific to developing successful district cooling in Singapore.
At ARANER, we offer the thermal expertise needed to develop successful district cooling projects across the globe. Get in touch with us and discover how we can help your project become the next thriving initiative within district cooling in Singapore.
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