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Singapore Government seeks expertise to strengthen advanced nuclear research. (Photo: iStock)
Singapore's current energy mix does not include nuclear power, but it has not ruled out the possibility of adopting nuclear energy in the future. The country is set to launch a one-year research project to assess the feasibility of fourth-generation advanced nuclear technologies.
This comes on the heels of increasing collaborations with European and American countries in nuclear energy, signaling a potential move toward low-carbon nuclear power development.
Singapore seeks energy experts to study nuclear technologies
As the demand for electricity grows, driven by the expansion of energy-intensive industries such as data centers, the Singaporean government aims to meet carbon reduction goals while addressing rising power needs. To this end, it issued an open call for experts in nuclear energy late last year, seeking advice on advanced nuclear technologies.
The focus is on small modular reactors (SMRs), high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), and molten salt reactors (MSRs), which are considered more suitable for Singapore's limited space and high safety standards.
Before the bidding deadline, Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) received 24 submissions from organizations including Arup Singapore, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Surbana Jurong Consultants, TÜV SÜD Germany, and multinational consulting firm KPMG. Ten of these will be shortlisted for the next phase of the process.
In 2012, the Singaporean government publicly stated that nuclear energy was not suitable for the country due to technological limitations at the time. Instead, the focus was on academic and educational efforts in nuclear development. However, as nuclear technology has advanced, authorities are revisiting its feasibility, with increasingly intensive nuclear cooperation with other countries.
With the rapid growth of data centers and other energy-intensive industries, Singapore's electricity demand continues to rise. (Photo: iStock)
Singapore strengthens partnerships with UAE, Sweden, U.S.
Over the past six months, Singapore has established nuclear energy-related partnerships with the United Arab Emirates and Sweden and has signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, known as the '123 Agreement,' laying the foundation for nuclear energy safety and deployment between the two countries. The Energy Market Authority also stated that the outsourced research project is built upon these international collaborations.
In Singapore's latest submission to the United Nations for its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the government reaffirmed that no decision has been made on whether to deploy nuclear power. However, it will continue to build capabilities in related technologies, drawing on the expertise of global leaders in the field.
Nuclear power is gaining attention across Southeast Asia, with countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia expressing interest in using nuclear energy to reduce their carbon footprint. However, significant challenges remain.
Grant Hauber, an advisor at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), cautioned that SMR technology is still not commercially proven. Given its high costs and risks, a more cautious approach is advised to avoid costly setbacks.
Source: The Straits Times, Asian Power, Nikkei Asia
