Clean Coal and Biomass Cogeneration Plant by Tuas Power: A Chronology

This is a chronology of the news and responses on Tuas Power’s clean coal and biomass cogeneration plant.

14 Mar 08 – Tuas Power sold to China Huaneng Group (Temasek successfully completes divestment of Tuas Power by Temasek Holdings)

27 Mar 08 – Tuas Power announced that it is looking at building a $2 billion coal-fired plant (Tuas Power may build $2b coal-fired plant by Business Times)

2 Apr 08 – We think it is highly possible that Tuas Power would take the coal route and expressed our concerns (Red dot goes black? by AsiaIsGreen)

26 Sep 08 – Tuas Power announced plans to build a $2 billion steam and electricity production plant to run on clean coal and biomass on Jurong Island (Tuas Power to build $2b ‘clean’ plant by Straits Times) Read more

Update on Tuas Power’s clean coal plant (part 2)

The Straits Times did not publish our reply letter so we sent the following email to NEA, EMA and Tuas Power:

I refer to the reply letters, “Clean coal: Assurance by Tuas Power” by Tuas Power and “Plant balances cost and green concerns” by the National Environment Agency and Energy Market Authority. It is reassuring that Tuas Power and the Government are committed to environmental sustainability.

In the reply from NEA and EMA, I find that the comparison of carbon emissions between the new plant and existing oil-fired plants is inappropriate. Singapore generates 80 per cent of its electricity by natural gas-fired plants, which are more efficient and less carbon
intensive than oil-fired plants. Since gas-fired plants are the main type of technology used in Singapore, new plants to be built should be using technologies that produce carbon emissions at a level that is equivalent to or better than the existing gas-fired plants, and not the oil-fired plants.

I would appreciate an answer from NEA, EMA or Tuas Power on the following question: What is the carbon emission per unit of electricity generation for Tuas Power’s new plant, and is it less or more than a gas-fired plant?

If Singapore is committed to do its part in global efforts to tackle climate change, we should be using fuel and technologies that reduce carbon emissions.

Thank you.

This is NEA and EMA’s reply: Read more

Update on Tuas Power’s clean coal plant

Tuas Power, National Environment Agency and Energy Market Authority replied to our letter on the new clean coal plant being one step forward and two steps backward in Singapore’s green efforts. This is our reply to The Straits Times:

I refer to the reply letters, “Clean coal: Assurance by Tuas Power” by Tuas Power and “Plant balances cost and green concerns” by the National Environment Agency and Energy Market Authority. It is reassuring that Tuas Power and the Government are committed to environmental sustainability. However, I find that the comparison of carbon emissions between the new plant and existing oil-fired plants is inappropriate.

Singapore generates 80 per cent of its electricity by natural gas-fired plants, which are more efficient and less carbon intensive than oil-fired plants. Since gas-fired plants are the main type of technology used in Singapore, new plants to be built should be using
technologies that produce carbon emissions at a level that is equivalent to or better than the existing gas-fired plants, and not the oil-fired plants.

Is the carbon emission per unit of electricity generation for Tuas Power’s new plant less or more than a gas-fired plant?

If Singapore is committed to do its part in global efforts to tackle climate change, we should be using fuel and technologies that reduce carbon emissions.

Tuas Power vs Senoko Power

Which power plant is greener? Tuas Power or Senoko Power?

Tuas Power is building a clean coal and biomass plant:

Mr Lim Kong Puay, chief executive of Tuas Power, said: “The efficient use of the cogeneration technology coupled with biomass and clean coal allows us to achieve savings, and this saving will be passed on to our industrial consumers.”

‘Overall, we are able to produce one unit of energy at a more competitive cost,’ said Tuas Power president and CEO Lim Kong Puay.

Senoko Power is converting its plants from oil-fired to gas-fired:

Senoko had considered using coal, which is a cheaper fuel, Mr Adair said, but was very conscious of its carbon footprint which is two-and-a-half times that of natural gas. On the other hand, the carbon footprint of gas is also only 60 per cent that of oil. The genco will be seeking carbon credits for the project, he added.

Tuas Power is building Singapore’s first ‘clean coal’ power plant

Tuas Power is going ahead with its plan to build Singapore’s first clean coal and biomass plant. We expressed concerns about Tuas Power’s proposed plans in our previous post, Red dot goes black?, and our worries have come true.

We wrote the following letter to The Straits Times to express our concerns about the use of coal by Tuas Power:

I refer to the article, “Tuas Power to build $2b ‘clean’ plant” by Clarissa Oon (ST Sep 26).

Clean coal is an oxymoron as coal is associated with multiple environmental problems such as habitat destruction, acid rain and global warming. Burning coal produces higher levels of carbon dioxide, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulates and mercury.

With these environmental impacts in mind, Tuas Power and the National Environment Agency need to reassure the public and concerned environmentalists on the use of coal in the new plant.

Would the new plant meet the relevant air emissions and environmental regulations? Are carbon emissions per kilowatt hour higher for the new plant as compared to a natural gas-fired plant? Would the use of coal in the new plant lead to greater use of coal by other power generation companies?

This switch to using coal by Tuas Power seems to contradict the government’s efforts and plans on sustainable development. The new plant should not increase Singapore’s environmental impacts, especially our carbon emissions. If not, it would seem that we are moving one step forward and two steps backward on our green efforts.