Sembcorp Industries will work with the Energy Market Authority (EMA) to test its expanded battery energy-storage system on Jurong Island for its ability to provide inertia – a key factor in maintaining grid stability during sudden disruptions.
The company piloted a vertical battery-stacking solution at its existing Jurong Island energy-storage system (ESS), raising capacity from 285 megawatt-hours (MWh) to 326 MWh, without increasing land use.
Inertia is traditionally provided by rotating thermal generators. Singapore is testing advanced ESS as an alternative, as the country relies more on solar power and imported electricity.
The expanded ESS is one of two clean-energy projects on Jurong Island that Sembcorp unveiled on Monday (27 Oct).
Built across the Banyan and Sakra regions, the ESS started operations in December 2022, with the vertical stacking solution piloted this year.
The Banyan ESS can power the daily electricity needs of about 27,300 four-room HDB households per discharge.
Some key features of the storage system include a central control system that manages battery charging and discharging cycles in response to the needs of the national grid.
The battery energy-storage system also integrates battery management, power supply and distribution, monitoring, environment control, fire suppression, and cabling systems.
“Energy storage plays an important role in enabling Singapore’s energy transition,” said EMA’s chief executive Puah Kok Keong.
“In particular, battery energy-storage systems have the potential to provide a wide range of energy services, including frequency regulation for the power grid.”
