Articles

JTC appoints Univers and PacificLight to develop Singapore’s first district-level Smart Grid in Punggol Digital District

4 November 2024, Singapore – JTC Corporation has appointed a consortium of Univers, a Singapore-headquartered global decarbonisation software firm, and PacificLight Power (PacificLight), a Singapore-based power generator and retailer, to design, build and operate the Republic’s first-ever district-level Smart Grid. Located at Punggol Digital District (PDD), it furthers Singapore’s green energy transition and supports the district’s ambitions to achieve net-zero before 2045. The first district-level Smart Grid is jointly developed by JTC, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Public Sector Science & Technology Policy & Plans Office (S&TPPO) under the Prime Minister’s Office.

Under this landmark partnership, Univers and PacificLight will design, build and operate a Smart Grid integrating a battery energy storage system (BESS) with solar photovoltaic panels to optimise energy efficiency across the district through real-time data management and renewable energy generation.

This installation forms part of the district’s solar panels, which will produce over 3,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy annually. Integrating solar energy and the BESS with the smart grid enables peak shaving, a strategy for reducing the energy consumed during peak demand on the electrical grid, and ensures reliable and continuous energy supply to the district. This smart grid installation also enables consumers to participate in demand response and allows them to shift their electricity usage during peak periods in response to time-based rates.

Situated in Singapore’s highly anticipated smart business district, the digitally enabled Smart Grid will be the first of its kind for business parks in Singapore and is designed to optimise energy efficiency across the district. The project, which is currently in the design phase, is expected to be completed in 2026. Together with other energy saving features and strategies, PDD is expected to achieve an estimated improvement in district-level energy efficiency of over 50%, which exceeds the Green Mark Platinum for Districts requirement.

Managed centrally by Univers’ Energy and Environment Operating System (EnOSTM) powered by Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AIoT), the system is secure and scalable via 4G connectivity to enable seamless integration of the Smart Grid to JTC’s new estate operating platform – the Open Digital Platform, to exchange raw data and business insights. Besides enabling real-time monitoring and tracking of energy use via smart meter and advanced metering infrastructure, through integration with the Open Digital Platform, the system also allows communication and interaction with various systems in the district, such as the EV chargers, District Cooling System and Building Management System. This will help businesses in PDD optimise energy use and reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy adoption and load shifting. Aspirations to push the boundaries for further energy savings of up to 20% may also be achieved through artificial intelligence and machine learning.

PacificLight’s Deputy General Manager of Business Development, Thomas Lim (right) showing where the solar panels will be located. With him are JTC’s Group Director of New Estates, Nelson Liew (left) and Univers’ Director of Delivery Lead, Zahir Siddique (middle).

Other Features of PDD Smart Grid

The Smart Grid can enrol non-traditional energy assets such as backup generators and electric vehicles, allowing PDD consumers to look forward to participating in the Singapore national electricity market through the onboarding of their electric vehicles or in-house energy storage systems, and to interact with it for demand response. Such monitoring and potentially control of in-district energy assets can, with the support from the relevant authorities and upon successful trials, be extended to interconnect and interact with neighbouring developments, for a district-wide demonstration.

Singapore’s first district-level smart grid can facilitate new business concepts to be developed. The collaboration between JTC, EMA and S&TPPO will be a living lab where companies can test their systems in an operational business park setting. The initiative aligns with Singapore’s vision to harness digital technology for enhanced urban living and environmental sustainability solutions. Some of these testbeds include:

Trial of underground deployment of the battery energy storage system with appropriate fire safety measures in a real-world urban environment to understand safety risk, upon approval by the authorities;
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) demonstration, with support from the authorities;
Demonstrating co-existence of solar photovoltaic (PV) or Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) on rooftop trellis together with commercial urban farming on tower rooftops; and
Developing the Smart Grid digital platform as an enabling infrastructure for virtual power plants and exploring participation in EMA’s virtual power plant regulatory sandbox.

This partnership has also been featured on Business Times Singapore.

Nelson Liew, Group Director, New Estates, JTC, said,

“PDD is a living lab where companies can test their systems in an operational business park setting. The Smart Grid not only generates, transmits and stores energy efficiently, it also serves as a platform for testing innovative solutions to advance our sustainability goals.

We look forward to working with Univers and PacificLight to leverage deep technological expertise and strong track record in energy solutions to bring this vision to life, setting a benchmark for future industrial developments. JTC and PDD tenants can then look forward to enjoying reduced cost of renewable electricity supply while leveraging onsite renewables energy generation.”

The Smart Grid, located at Punggol Digital District, will also be a living lab where companies can test their systems in an operational business park setting.

Low Xin Wei, Assistant Chief Executive, Markets and Systems Division, EMA, said,

“Distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar panels, district cooling and EV chargers have the potential to play a greater and broader range of roles in our energy system, especially as our renewable energy penetration increases. Coordinating these resources and their underlying operations is challenging but presents immense opportunities. PDD, with its mix of commercial and educational facilities, is a microcosm of how such smart grid management capabilities can eventually be scaled island-wide. EMA is glad to partner JTC and S&TPPO on initiatives that will make an impact on the Singapore Energy Transition.”

Pang Chung Khiang, Group Chief Systems Officer, S&TPPO, PMO said,

“Through this smart grid testbed, we aim to promote active participation from businesses to aggregate energy demands and develop innovative business models to better manage the distributed energy resources as virtual power plants. This initiative will open doors to new business models that will benefit both consumers and the energy ecosystem. By using digital twins, and modelling and simulation techniques, we can optimise investments, improve efficiencies and resilience, and maximise resource savings, all while reducing implementation risks. We are excited to collaborate with JTC and EMA to shape the future of our energy system.”

Michael Ding, Global Executive Director, Univers, said,

“Univers is proud to be partnering with JTC, EMA and S&TPPO on this transformative Smart Grid project. The project brings together our digital capabilities and energy management solutions to help businesses in PDD achieve energy efficiency and decarbonisation, underscoring our commitment to supporting Singapore’s smart nation and energy transition goals.”

Yu Tat Ming, CEO of PacificLight, said,

“PacificLight is excited to contribute to Singapore’s first smart grid at the Punggol Digital District, a significant step toward a sustainable energy future. We hope this project sets the foundation for wider adoption of smart grid technology across Singapore, driving both energy efficiency and carbon reduction.”

JTC

Since its inception in 1968, JTC has played a strategic role in ensuring Singapore stays innovative and dynamic amid global manufacturing trends.

As a government agency under Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, JTC is paving the way forward for Singapore’s industrial landscape with green and smart estate masterplans such as one-north, Seletar Aerospace Park, Jurong Innovation District, and Punggol Digital District. Our estates attract new investment and foster collaborative ecosystems that strengthen Singapore’s position as an advanced manufacturing hub. We also drive innovation in the Built Environment sector by piloting new construction technologies.

For more information on JTC, visit www.jtc.gov.sg.

Press release: https://www.jtc.gov.sg/about-jtc/news-and-stories

S&TPPO, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

The Public Sector Science & Technology Policy & Plans Office (S&TPPO) conducts science, technology and engineering (STE) planning and strengthens the public sector STE capabilities. It works with other centre-of-government agencies to identify key public sector STE capabilities to build, and review how these capabilities are resourced, sited and supports the development of STE talent and community. S&TPPO supports agencies’ efforts in building up ops-tech and technology management capabilities. S&TPPO also collaborates with and supports agencies in tackling national challenges such as energy transition and climate change through engineering tools such as modelling and simulation.

Univers

Univers provides the world’s most comprehensive decarbonization system.

We help companies and countries optimize energy systems and reduce carbon emissions with accurate, reliable, and actionable decarbonization data. Our EnOSTM platform connects on-the-ground operational technology and in-the-cloud intelligence to deliver real-time energy data and data-driven carbon monitoring, reporting, and abatement. Univers gives climate leaders unmatched control and opportunity to drive business and environmental progress.

With over 280 million devices connected, more than 685GW of renewable energy under management, and a community of over 800 customers, we’re helping the world’s leading business get the world to net-zero – and what comes after it.

For more information, please visit univers.com

PacificLight

PacificLight is a Singapore-based power generation and electricity retail company that has been operating since 2013. PacificLight safely and reliably generates close to 10% of Singapore’s annual electricity demand with the company’s 830 MW generation facility currently one of the most efficient and reliable combined cycle power plants operating in Singapore. PacificLight is owned by subsidiary companies of First Pacific Company Limited and Manila Electric Company.

Through its Sustainergy program, PacificLight actively supports its business customers to decarbonise through the installation of smart energy solutions and renewable infrastructure.

As part of PacificLight’s mission to embrace a low-carbon future, the company is developing a 600 MW solar import project in a consortium with Medco Power Global and Gallant Venture to provide large-scale, competitively priced renewable energy to Singapore customers.