Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) has launched a request for information (RFI) round for a 100 MW large scale floating solar PV system for private sector consumption. Through this round, it seeks to explore the possibility of a 100 MW PV system on Kranji Reservoir.
The EDB estimates a small portion of Kranji's surface could support the 100 MW floating PV installation, leading to a reduction of 52 kilotons of carbon emissions annually. The purpose of this RFI is to invite proposals from interested companies that are renewable energy users to determine the level of demand.
This RFI is part of the two-stage model to explore the potential deployment of the system. First is the exploratory stage that will determine the renewable energy user, at the end of which EDB will sign a MoU with the winner of the contract.
It will then move to the evaluation stage wherein the selected proposer from the exploratory stage will be responsible for developing the system and will be free to conduct necessary engineering and environmental impact studies to determine feasibility of such a system. Under step 2 of the evaluation stage, the selected proposer will conduct an open selection of system builders and owners.
Last date to submit proposals is January 25, 2019. A question and answer session for all interested parties has been scheduled for November 30, 2018. Details about the RFI are available on the website of EDB.
The Solar Energy Institute of Singapore (SERIS) believes water bodies across the world hold huge promise for floating solar PV capacity. In a report commissioned by the World Bank, SERIS claims the world floating PV capacity has exceeded the gigawatt-level, reaching 1.1 GW of in September 2018 (see World Bank: Gigantic Potential For Floating PV).