Page 12 - AsiaElec Week 35 2021

AsiaElec NEWS IN BRIEF AsiaElec

NIBS and Gas Act. access to other forms of renewable energy. It
The proposed changes are set out under plans to decarbonise its energy sector in four
Singapore proposes green the Energy (Resilience Measures and ways: enhancing the efficiency of natural gas
Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill and will
plants, boosting solar deployment by putting
standards power gen enable EMA to implement Singapore’s energy panels everywhere, including on water bodies,
transition, while ensuring the sustainability,
importing low-carbon electricity from the
companies security, and reliability of the power sector, the region, and researching into low-carbon
solutions such as hydrogen and carbon
two agencies added.
Singapore has proposed new green standards The proposed changes will also enable capture, utilisation and storage solutions.
for power generation companies operating in EMA to acquire, build, own and/or operate
the country. critical infrastructure, and allow it to raise
The country currently relies on natural capital or issue bonds for infrastructure.
gas — a fossil fuel — to fulfil over 95% of its Additionally, damaging protective CLIMATE
energy needs. However, in April this year, the infrastructure housing cables or pipelines,
island nation achieved its target for the year of like cable tunnels, will now be considered an erry faces tough talks in
350MW of solar capacity. The installation of offence, unlike earlier when penalty could
rooftop solar PV systems on public housing only be imposed upon the destruction of China
had become one of the prominent drivers for actual cables or pipelines.
the growth of solar PV in the country. The Earlier this month, U.N. climate panel said John Kerry’s visit to China is expected to go
next big target is to get to 2 GW by 2030. in a landmark report that global warming beyond discussions about the climate, with
The current proposal seeks to amend the is dangerously close to spiralling out of Beijing making it clear that any talks on
Electricity Act, which will enable the Energy control, warning that the world is already emissions reduction must be accompanied by
Market Authority (EMA) to set greenhouse certain to face further climate disruptions for wider talks on improving the two countries’
gas emissions standards or policies that will decades, if not centuries, to come. Humans strained political relations.
compel power generation firms to use low- are “unequivocally” to blame, said the report, Kerry held talks with vice-premier Han
carbon technology, for example, to reduce adding that unless immediate, rapid and large- Zheng on September 2, the South China
their emissions. In recent time, the EMA scale action is taken to reduce emissions, the Morning Post reported, and will also meet
has been attempting to incentivise energy average global temperature is likely to reach State Councillor Yang Jiechi – China’s most
efficiency for power generation companies or cross the 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7 degrees senior diplomat – via videoconference,
through its various schemes and grants. Fahrenheit) warming threshold within 20 according to a source familiar with the
EMA and its parent ministry, the Ministry years. The burning of fossil fuels is the main arrangements who requested anonymity.
of Trade and Industry, stated last week that driver of modern climate change. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made it clear
they were seeking public feedback on a set The Singapore Government has said that on August 1, in a video call with Kerry, that
of proposed amendments to three pieces as a land-scarce country, the Republic lacks any cooperation on climate change would be
of energy legislation: the Energy Market land for large solar farms. And while sunshine inextricably linked to improving deteriorating
Authority of Singapore Act, Electricity Act is abundant in the tropics, Singapore lacks China-US ties.

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 35 01•September•2021