Can you imagine a world without your phone? Or a world without easy access to light during nighttime? Those were the “dark ages”, the kind of world that most people lived in before electricity became easily accessible. Today, practically everything requires electricity to function; our homes, transportation, the internet, etc. Electricity is such an important foundation of our lives that losing it may potentially cause contemporary civilization as we know it to collapse. At the rate at which the world is using fossil fuels, the “dark” ages may return within this century. Before that happens, we need to switch to an alternative source of energy that is cleaner and more sustainable before that happens.
Currently, fossil fuels, in the form of coal, natural gas and oil, make up 80% of our global energy production. While ubiquitous and reliable, fossil fuels have their fair share of limitations. Firstly, fossil fuels are non-renewable and have a limited supply. Once fully utilized, we cannot produce more of it. Secondly, they produce tons of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) as a by-product. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that naturally traps heat in the atmosphere. The continued and increasing dependence on fossil fuels since the industrial revolution has resulted in the accumulation of CO2 in our atmosphere. Since then, the average temperature has increased by at least 1°C. If the current levels of carbon emission are maintained or intensified, the global temperature can increase by 5°C by the year 2100!
While 5°C seems like a “small” change, the difference is enough to adversely disrupt life – significant biodiversity stands to be impacted and many of our ecosystems are thrown into an imbalance. Many plants and animals have a specific range of living conditions and are extremely sensitive to any minuscule fluctuations. They may lack the capacity to adapt to sudden changes and might perish. Can you imagine wearing a full-body fur coat that cannot be removed on a hot day? Well, some of the animals in the colder regions are in this exact predicament. Our livelihoods also depend on nature’s processes to provide us with basic resources. The increase in temperature is just the tip of the iceberg, as it also leads to the melting of ice caps and subsequently raising the sea level that can submerge and wipe out masses of land.
Sustainable Development Goal 7
To alleviate these concerns, Sustainable Development Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy was established with the aim to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”. One way to do so is through SDG 7.2, to increase the global percentage of renewable energy. Renewables rely on natural sources of energy such as sunlight and wind that are replenishable and readily available. Compared to fossil fuels, renewables produce minuscule amounts of CO2 and are not constrained by supply.
Locally, Singapore aims to quadruple its solar energy deployment by 2030, with plans to utilize existing spaces to install more solar panels. The rooftops of HDBs, and even a reservoir (specifically Tengah Reservoir) are locations used to capture the Sun’s energy. By embracing and increasing solar energy supply, 3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions can be potentially saved from being released by 2030! 4
Too Good to be True?
Despite the promising benefits of switching to renewables, a complete shift to 100% renewable is perhaps too idealistic to be achieved within the next few years. The path towards a fully “renewable” world is met not only with logistical barriers, but also economic ones.
Due to their intermittent nature, there are periods (non-windy, night-time) whereby renewable energy cannot be harnessed. During these periods, the supply of energy generated cannot keep up with the demands of society. While it is possible to store excess renewable energy generated in batteries for later usage, the current lead-acid batteries we have may be too inefficient to be used reliably. The newer lithium-ion batteries being developed do offer greater efficiency in terms of storage, but it is still too early before it is cost-effective. These hefty economic costs may ultimately become a barrier of entry for the lower-income countries to adopt renewables.
Just like how natural resources are distributed unequally across the world, the inherent capacity for a country to utilise renewable sources of energy is unfortunately also unequal. Some countries draw the shorter end of the stick and cannot effectively utilise renewables due to their physical geography. Due to Singapore’s land constraints, it is deemed to be “alternative energy disadvantaged” by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). Singapore’s lack of open land and its abundance of high-rise buildings prevents effective capture of wind energy. Our busy ports hinder the effective capture of tidal energy. The barrage of clouds from frequent rainfall also blocks out sunlight, reducing the efficiency of solar panels.
While our land constraints may impede our ability to generate more low-carbon energy, it does not mean that we cannot further reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Much like how we import freshwater from Malaysia, it is possible to import energy generated from renewable sources from our surrounding neighbours. Under the “Energy reset” pillar of the Green Plan 2030, Singapore has plans to connect our local electricity grids to the regional grids of Malaysia and Indonesia, allowing access to low-carbon electricity from beyond our shores. In an even more ambitious project, Singapore also has plans to import solar energy generated in Darwin, Australia through a 4200km underwater power cable.
What will happen to the world in 10, 20, 30, 50 years’ time when we cannot generate enough renewable energy and increasingly run out of non-renewable fossil fuels? While we remain hopeful that renewables can eventually be enough to phase out fossil fuels, we should also take active steps to help reduce the demand for energy in our workplaces, business operations, households and recreational activities.