The ambitious plan for renewable energy resources in Singapore is about to undergo a revolutionary change with the installation of the world’s first floating solar system in the vicinity of Jurong Island. This innovative project is the Asian version of the most groundbreaking solar technology developed in marine areas, with the cutting-edge membrane technology provided by OceanSun, the Norwegian technology forerunner, along with the capabilities of Keppel Infrastructure, the Singapore giant.

The way Singapore’s floating solar technology overcomes rough oceans

The challenges for the implementation of renewable energy sources in Singapore are different due to its land constraints and high level of urbanization. The conventional floating solar technology is effective in calm water reservoirs, but the waves in the waters off the coast of Singapore are quite strong, requiring cutting-edge technology for effective implementation. The Jurong Island project employs OceanSun’s revolutionary membrane-based technology that attaches solar panels directly onto large circular reinforced membranes, creating stable platforms capable of withstanding harsh marine environments.

OceanSun’s patented technology is completely different from the conventional floating solar power solutions provided to other countries, including Singapore, on pontoons. The innovation brought by the Norwegian firm is the membrane technology, which enables solar cells to be laid on the surface of the water, offering better cooling capabilities compared to the conventional solution. The solution decreases material requirements by 90% compared with the traditional technology.

Keppel Infrastructure drives the renewable energy revolution in Singapore

Keppel Infrastructure secured government grants from Singapore’s Energy Market Authority and JTC to pilot this first-of-its-kind nearshore floating solar system. The company’s role extends beyond mere project development—they’re pioneering scalable solutions for Singapore’s renewable energy future. Their expertise in marine infrastructure makes them ideal partners for deploying complex floating systems in challenging nearshore environments around Jurong Island.

Why three circular platforms create tremendous levels of energy

The pilot project comprises three platforms, which are circular, with an integrated installation capacity of 1.5 MWp, located in the surrounding seawater of Jurong Island. Each platform is designed with high-density polyethylene pipes around the membrane, allowing the creation of stable platforms for energy production that are efficient with good stability in the dynamic conditions of the environment of Singapore.

The design is also much more advanced from an engineering perspective, compared to the conventional rectangular design for floating solar cells. The design provides the lowest material usage in the floating solar technology available in the market today, allowing for the reduction in LCoE, while also encouraging the conservation of resources. The project is also an important model for future replication.

Technical specifications:

1. Three circular membrane platforms
2. 1.5 MWp cumulative installed capacity
3. Membrane-based attachment system
4. High-density polyethylene protection structure

The crucial, underlying element that renders the project impossible

What makes the floating solar megaproject impossible is the innovative technology involved, but more than anything, the fact that Singapore, the Asian renewable energy superpower, is devoid of natural resources. The country has neither fossil fuels, land, nor favorable sea conditions, yet Singapore leads the innovation revolution in the world of renewable energy sources in developing countries with similar conditions.

Speaking about the technology, Janice Bong, the executive director of Power & Renewables, Keppel Infrastructure, highlighted the scalability of the technology: “With the land constraint that Singapore has for the installation of solar panels, the superior and innovative system can be readily scaled up to boost the production of floating solar energy in Singapore.”

This is more than innovation with technology, but the future for countries with fewer resources. The success with the floating solar technology in Singapore, with their nearshore locations, is something that other countries with land mass problems can model to show that there is always potential to generate renewable energy, even with geographical challenges, if the technology is there.

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