Singapore launches initiatives to future-proof power grid

The programmes will ensure the reliability of the energy grid.

Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) has announced initiatives that aim to strengthen capabilities in managing the future needs of the city-state’s electricity grid.

In a statement, EMA said these are part of the Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap, which outlines Singapore’s strategy to ensure the reliability of the power grid through research and development, pilot projects and deployment of solutions.

One of the initiatives is the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Regulatory Sandbox which will run for two years. It will test the technical and operational capabilities of VPPs in providing energy and ancillary services to the grid.

Companies participating in the pilot sandbox are Blue Whale Energy, Nanyang Technological University, and SP Group. This will allow EMA to evaluate the benefits of VPPs to the power system and inform future market design.

EMA has also launched the Energy Grid 3.0 Grant Call for proposals to enhance grid planning and operations capabilities, to manage an increasingly complex grid with more renewable penetration and distributed energy resources, as well as solutions to manage new needs of the power system, such as inertia.

Inertia refers to the resistance of the electrical grid to sudden changes in frequency, akin to a steady force that keeps electricity smooth and stable.

This programme is open to research consortia comprising Institutes of Higher Learning, research institutions, and/or private companies.

Meanwhile, EMA and SP Group are exploring the establishment of the SP Technology Laboratory. This is to develop solutions to address the focus areas identified under the Roadmap, including enhancing grid planning and operations capabilities to manage an increasingly complex grid.