Energy Resources
Energy is recognized by the Government of Singapore as a priority, and its has set up the Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO) to pursue energy efficiency policies. The National Energy Policy Report (NEPR), published in 2007, articulates Singapore’s energy policy framework.
Singapore is considered a developing country by the UNFCCC, and therefore is granted special consideration in recognition of the difficulties of switching to alternative energy sources. Due to its lack of land area, Singapore lacks the natural endowments to transition to alternative fuel sources. Currently, Singapore is dependent on imported fossil fuels. Since 2001, Singapore switched from fuel oil to natural gas to generate electricity, which now accounts for 80% of electricity production. Additionally, Singapore is using waste as a resource to produce electricity through incineration. This accounts for 2 to 3% of the country's total electricity supply. While pressures on its limited resources have increased, Singapore’s energy intensity (per dollar of GDP at 2000 prices) improved by 22% from 1990 to 2005. By 2007, Singapore’s overall carbon intensity has fallen 40% since 1990. Due to its lack of natural endowments, alternative sources of energy such as hydroelectric power and tidal energy cannot be harnessed as Singapore has no major river system and has relatively calm seas. It also has little land to grow domestic biomass and has a low average wind speed, restricting the use of wind turbines as an energy source. Solar energy is the only viable alternative energy option, but even this is limited by the lack of land. Due to this situation, the government has chosen to promote energy efficiency through such initiatives as the Fuel Economy Labelling Scheme (FELS), introducing mandatory fuel economy labelling for passenger cars and light goods vehicles from 1 April 2009. Other initiatives are being promoted by the government as well, such as enhancing awareness about the benefits of public transport, with a goal of achieving a 70:30 ratio between public and private transport journeys by 2020.
