Singapore’s national water agency PUB has commissioned Sembcorp Solar Singapore Pte Ltd to build the country’s largest floating solar photovoltaic (PV) system on Tengeh Reservoir. With a solar capacity of 60 megawatt-peak (MWp), it is also set to be one of the world’s largest single floating solar PV systems when completed in 2021.

PUB launched a request for proposal (RFP) on 6 June 2019 for private sector companies to design, build, own and operate (DBOO) a large-scale floating PV system (at least 50 MWp in capacity) for 25 years on Tengeh Reservoir. The RFP attracted bids from four local and overseas companies.

According to PUB, Sembcorp Solar Singapore has proposed the use of highly efficient PV modules and optimised layout to maximise energy generation within the specified area. At 60 MWp, the floating solar farm is expected to generate enough energy to power approximately 16,000 four-room HDB flats (Singapore’s public housing), and reduce around 32 kilotonnes carbon emissions annually – which is believed to be the same as taking 7,000 cars off the roads.

PUB plans to use the green energy produced to power its water treatment processes, thus reducing its carbon footprint. Covering an area equivalent to about 45 football fields, the system can produce enough electricity to meet 7% of PUB’s total energy needs.

Sembcorp Solar Singapore - a subsidiary of Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd - is an experienced solar player with 240 MWp of contracted solar projects across more than 1,500 sites. This latest appointment is the second DBOO project that PUB has collaborated with Sembcorp - which also runs and operates the Sembcorp Changi NEWater Plant that opened in 2010.

All images: PUB