How much energy does it take to power a home? Now imagine the bill to power an entire neighbourhood or city.
As Singapore pushes to transform its energy sector, scientists and engineers are finding smarter ways to cool our spaces and keep the lights on without sending costs or emissions soaring.
Keeping it Cool in Singapore Without the Carbon Cost
Air-conditioning is a major driver of electricity use in Singapore, responsible for roughly a fifth of national emissions when you add up homes and buildings. With warmer weather ahead, Singaporeans’ reliance on air conditioning to stay cool will only grow. The challenge is how can we cool Singapore without compromising on our carbon footprint?
At SIT, researchers have developed a Passive Displacement Cooling (PDC) system that works with nature, not against it. Instead of using energy-hungry fans to push cool air around, PDC relies on the natural flow of warm air rising and cool air sinking. The result? Spaces that stay comfortable, while users avoid the extra power bill.
It may be an office or classroom today, but scaled across future districts. This approach could mean lower costs for businesses and families and a smaller carbon footprint for Singapore.
Smarter Energy with Steadier Bills
While hotter days push up demand for cooling, they also bring greater opportunity for Singapore to integrate solar power into its energy mix. But what happens when the clouds roll in? Solar energy can also be prone to disruptions, owing to the natural fluctuations of sunlight in a day. As Singapore’s weather becomes more unpredictable with climate change, the challenge lies in ensuring a steady supply of electricity even in adverse weather conditions. The answer lies in smart microgrids.
When connected to a central grid, microgrids regulate energy storage through Energy Management Systems (EMS) to decide when to store or release electricity. SIT researchers have taken it a step further by creating a smart EMS that is capable of coordinating multiple microgrids at once. Using artificial intelligence, the EMS is able to predict demand and solar outputs to balance or discharge electricity more efficiently and with greater cost-effectiveness. For the average consumer, that means steadier electricity prices, fewer disruptions and a cleaner energy mix that supports Singapore’s ambitions for a low-carbon future.
Turning Innovation to Real World Impact
SIT’s work in district cooling and smart energy management shows how research can move beyond theory into solutions that people can feel in the form of cooler homes or lighter bills.
The businesses of today need leaders who understand not just the science, but also the strategy, and know-how, of deploying it at scale.
Through SIT’s applied research, SITLEARN’s applied learning programmes, and with our very own District Cooling System right here on our SIT Punggol Campus, industry leaders and professionals gain real-world, hands-on experience vital in the global push towards net-zero emissions.
Discover SITLEARN courses that equip you to design and deliver sustainable solutions, from leading projects in sustainable cooling to managing smart energy systems for a greener city.
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