Ferry terminal adopts solar

SINGAPORE Singapore Cruise Centre’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal will soon become the city state’s first solar-powered ferry terminal.

Under an agreement with Sunseap Group, SCC will buy 100% of the terminal’s energy requirements via a hybrid offer that allows SCC to use solar power and supply from the grid.

The hybrid offer is structured around Sunseap’s capabilities as a licensed wholesaler (generation) and an electricity retailer.

Sunseap will develop a 650 kiloWatt-peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system that will be placed on the ferry terminal’s roof. This allows TMFT to garner about one-third of its daytime energy requirements.

At the same time, Sunseap will also supply grid electricity to TMFT to supplement the intermittent source.

SCC’s CEO, Christina Siaw said: “The deal with Sunseap will allow us to tap solar power, but still be assured of stability of energy supply to keep our terminal running smoothly. At the same time, we are reducing carbon footprint and achieving savings on our electricity bills.”

Falling prices in solar modules in recent years have triggered a phenomenon known as grid parity, where the cost of generating solar electricity is equal, or lower than that of conventional sources.

At the same time, the Singapore government is encouraging businesses and households to go green and has announced plans to implement a carbon tax in 2019 to get companies to reduce greenhouse emissions and consider clean energy options.

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