Trial to power parts of Raffles Lighthouse with tidal energy

A trial to convert the movement of tides off Pulau Satumu into electricity for Raffles Lighthouse is expected to begin in April, making this one of the first steps towards commercialising such technology in Singapore.

- Ang Qing

On Wednesday, marine renewable energy company Bluenergy Solutions and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) officially announced the project, which aims to replace generators fuelled by planet-warming diesel on the offshore island with clean tidal energy.

This comes as Singapore is cutting carbon emissions in the power sector accounting for about 40 per cent of the country's emissions - in a bid to hit net zero by 2050.

Similar to wind turbines, tidal currents power the blades of tidal turbines, converting kinetic energy into electricity.

The proof-of-value project will run for six months, with an estimated output of 2,700 kilowatthours of electricity.

During this period, the project's underwater turbines are expected to supply power to meet the nonoperational electrical needs of Raffles Lighthouse, including its living quarters.

Findings from the project will inform the renewable energy technology's deployment on offshore islands in the region, said Mr Ravin Palla, chief operating officer of Bluenergy Solutions.

He added that the Singapore owned company has plans to trial the turbine on Sentosa in 2023, and roll out the technology in Japan on a larger scale in 2024.