Written reply to to PQs on electricity demand and grid stress from prolonged heat wave

Questions

Ms Cheryl Chan Wei Ling: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry with the impending prolonged and intense heat (a) whether demand for cooling needs will overwhelm the power grid; and (b) whether there is a likelihood of this competing demand slowing down the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructures across Singapore.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether there has been a significant increase in electricity consumption since the onset of record high temperatures in Singapore; (b) what measures are in place to monitor and assess electricity demand and grid stress; and (c) what contingency plans are in place to address potential challenges in meeting the increased electricity demand during heat waves or prolonged periods of high temperatures and under what circumstances will they be activated.

Mr Murali Pillai: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the recent heatwave in Singapore has contributed to a spike in electrical consumption in both residential and commercial premises; (b) if so, what is the net increase in usage in terms of percentage and cost; and (c) what steps will be taken to ensure that Singapore's power grid will continue to have capacity to deal with the expected higher demand owing to climatic conditions in the future.

Written Answer by Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong

1. Electricity consumption is likely to be higher during the hotter months of April and May. This year, peak electricity demand increased by about 8% from 7.3GW in February to 7.9GW in May. The impact on electricity costs for different consumers and businesses depends on usage patterns and price plans that they are on.

2. We have sufficient generation and grid capacity to meet the increased electricity demand arising from higher temperatures. The existing installed capacity of Combined Cycle Gas Turbines used for power generation is 9.4GW, higher than the peak electricity demand we experienced.

3. System demand and network conditions are closely monitored in real time, 24/7, by EMA. The national grid operator, SP Group, also has round-the-clock monitoring of our transmission and distribution network. During periods of increased demand, EMA can direct generation units such as Open Cycle Gas Turbines to supply additional electricity to meet the system’s needs.

4. Changes in climatic conditions are taken into consideration when EMA updates its annual electricity demand forecasts. These forecasts also include projected demand from different sectors of society and the economy, including the growth of the electric vehicle population and the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. EMA uses the forecasts to plan for investments in electricity infrastructure.

a. First, the forecast guides generation capacity investments. EMA announced earlier that it will introduce a centralised tender approach this year to facilitate and guide private investments in new generation capacity.Should there be inadequate interest from the private sector to plant new capacity, EMA will build the required new capacity. This is to ensure that there is sufficient generation capacity to meet forecasted electricity demand.

  b. Second, the forecast also guides investments by SP Group to upgrade our power grid network, to meet projected electricity demand and the stringent grid reliability standards set by EMA.

5. Consumers are strongly encouraged to manage their demand for energy. NEA and EDB have introduced Energy Efficiency schemes to incentivise households and businesses to adopt energy efficient technologies. EMA has also introduced the Demand Response and Interruptible Load schemes which reward consumers when they reduce their electricity usage during periods of high overall demand, so as to mitigate peak demand and improve system reliability.