Energy security: a look at other fuel sources

business-times.asia1.com.sg :

With prices continuing to stay high for oil and natural gas - the two main imported fossil fuels on which Singapore is 100% dependent - shouldn't the Republic consider alternatives like solar energy, the biofuels which are taking off rapidly in this region, or even nuclear energy? This was among the questions raised on the subject of energy security at a recent Experts' Roundtable organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and Shell.

Singapore's power industry is moving to diversify and supplement supplies of natural gas - currently piped in from Indonesia and Malaysia - with imports of liquefied natural gas which can be shipped in from anywhere in the world, whether the Middle East, Australia or as far as Russia. 'The idea is to bring in the gas from as many sources as you can,' EMA CEO Khoo Chin Hean said. There are also concerns that Malaysia and Indonesia, with their growing economies, will increasingly need the gas for their own use, with correspondingly less supply for Singapore. But why LNG, and not say, coal or nuclear? 'The main concerns are environment and safety. In addition, you lose economies of scale when you mix technologies,' he said, adding however, that 'still, in a dynamic market, we keep our options open'.

A couple of the gencos here have for instance, looked at possible use of coal with PowerSeraya, for example, still considering it as a possible future fuel option, once the technology allows for processes which are clean and economic. The Roundtable agreed that in the longer term, advances in technology, especially developing alternative energy sources, will have to be part of the solution. Solar energy was one such possibility discussed, with differing views expressed on its viability. Biofuel is essentially palm oil mixed with diesel fuel to make biodiesel. While most of the biofuel plants are coming up in next-door Indonesia and Malaysia, where the palm oil plantations are, Singapore is also attracting biofuel plant investments including by Germany's Peter Cremer Group on Jurong Island.

As for nuclear power, countries like Vietnam and Indonesia are planning a nuclear-fuel option, while others are wary, largely on grounds of safety, the Roundtable heard. But as one participant put it: 'The technology (for nuclear plants) is now safe. The whole issue is really whether we trust the people behind the plants.'

- This was a good discussion on energy in Singapore. This is the first occasion I know of that nuclear energy for Singapore has been put on the table, so to speak. I believe it is also the first time where all the available alternative energy options have been discussed in public among local experts.

The "economies of scale" remark regarding LNG reinforces my opinion that "the path of least resistance" is being taken, obviously due to the fact that the existing infrastructure including power stations and piping can continue to be used without much changes. Still, it is valuable to have that confirmed.

I see that the fundamental disagreements on solar remain, even amongst the experts. The intermittency and storage issues will not go away. The same goes for wind. You might also want to note the omissions - hydro, geothermal and ocean thermal/tidal seem to have been omitted from the discussion. We don't have any obvious sources for the first two and I'd suppose the latter is still considered somewhat experimental.

Here is where I differ from most of the local Singapore peakoilers, and probably an even bigger chunk of the general population : I think Singapore should go nuclear for electricity generation. I will go further and suggest that not only do we go nuclear, we re-process the spent fuel to extract maximum mileage out of the 99% of the U238 portion that is otherwise unused and considered as so-called "nuclear waste". I will further suggest that, since Singapore likes to be a hub for so many other things, Singapore might even become a uranium re-processing hub for neighbouring countries.

We must not fall into the trap of thinking that "renewable energy" means "forever energy". Hydro dams silt up, wind turbines wear out. Solar cells sound good but associated inverters and batteries will wear out too. They talk about LNG now, but LNG is an interim measure. In the long term, even nuclear power is an interim measure since uranium is also a finite resource which will eventually peak and run out. In the very long term, a network of orbiting solar power satellites could move humanity to step up from a Type 0+ to become a Type 1 Civilization, capable of harnessing a significant portion of the solar energy falling on the planet. The next step might also be fusion, or perhaps something more exotic. The problem right now is to hang on long enough to reach that next step.

(2006-10-18 00:55:33 SGT) [Energy] Permalink Comments [7]

Main | Next day (Oct 18, 2006) »

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore MRT rail network length to double by 2020
2. 2010 Nissan Leaf electric car specifications : 107hp, 24KWh lithium-ion batteries, 100-mile range
3. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
4. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
5. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 direct download link
6. Real-time live gold and silver price quotes chart on COMEX
7. Singapore electric vehicles : Government agencies EMA and LTA to study EV introduction
8. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn
2. Singapore electric cars testing starts with 9 electric vehicles
3. Honda, GS Yuasa JV to make lithium-ion batteries for 2010/2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
4. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
5. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
6. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
7. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
8. Singapore : Nuclear power not ruled out