Debated in Parliament on 2 Aug 2023.
Ms Poh Li San asked the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the recent report released by NTU on possible geothermal energy sources in Singapore (a) whether there are plans to extract geothermal energy in Sembawang and, if so, how will Sembawang residents and businesses near the vicinity of the geothermal source be affected; and (b) whether there are plans to explore other potential sites in Singapore such as Pulau Tekong.
Mr Speaker, my response will address Ms Poh's question and will also address a question filed by Mr Sharael Taha due for the Sitting on or after 3 August on the same topic.
Singapore does not have sufficient near-surface underground heat resources such as underground hot water or steam to deploy conventional geothermal systems. However, with the newer developments in geothermal technology, there is potential to harness heat that is deep underground for power generation.
This exploratory study that is led by researchers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) found that in Admiralty, the heat at a depth of four to five kilometres could be sufficient for electricity generation. However, these new geothermal technologies that can harness heat at such great depths have yet to be commercially deployed.
There are therefore no immediate plans for geothermal energy production in Singapore. To holistically assess Singapore's geothermal potential, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will be launching a tender later this year to conduct a geophysical survey across Singapore. That survey will take a few years to complete. It will provide additional data to help in the assessment of geothermal energy as a potential source of renewable energy in Singapore.
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