Summary Reader Response Draft #1

February 12, 2022

Summary Reader Response Draft #1

According to the article ‘Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels ', Kok (2021) lightweight and slim solar panels are being installed on buses by Go-Ahead Singapore to charge their batteries instead of depending on an alternator.

The panels which "weigh less than 20 kg, 1.6mm-thick, flexible and shatterproof" are implemented on buses for the first time in Singapore. They produce 1,000 watts of power and are predicted to save 1,400 litres of fuel yearly, cutting 3.7 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Kok mentions that the panels are evaluated based on their capacity to increase fuel economy, absorb sunlight, and work at higher temperatures and after regular cleaning as part of a trial lasting half a year.

According to the article, the managing director of Go-Ahead Singapore, Andrew Thomson, expects the panels are predicted to do better in Singapore than in the United Kingdom where the data was originally based due to the sunny, hot and humid climate. Thomson also mentions the possibility of fitting the panels on electric buses if the expected savings and benefits are met.

The company expects to regain the money spent on trial in four years from saving fuel.

These buses are a testament to the versatility of solar panels. I do feel that these solar buses can be a catalyst in shaping Singapore towards a sustainable future due to their renewable source of energy, general affordability and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar buses have a renewable source of energy in the form of sunlight. With rapid industrialization, the increasing consumption of fossil fuels has generated a rising concern as it is estimated to be depleted by the year 2060 (Howarth, 2019). According to the US Energy Information Administration (eia, 2021), fossil fuels account for more than 85% of Singapore’s primary energy consumption substantiating the severity of this issue. The solar panels tackle this problem by harnessing solar energy extracted from the sun which is an infinite source and converting it into electricity. This consequently allows the buses to begin diversifying their energy source away from fossil fuels and subsequently reduces Singapore’s reliance on them as time progresses.

Solar panels also reduce the overall cost of running the buses. These solar buses do not need any additional expenditure to run therefore saving money that otherwise would have been used for fuel. According to the report “International Benchmarking study of public transport fares”, (Li, 2018) Singapore ranks 2^nd among 12 major cities in the affordability index for transport. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increase in fare prices to “mitigate the cost of running the public transport services” (Ng, 2021). The lower costs of running these services allow Singapore’s transport to maintain its affordability ahead of future challenges.

The reduction in carbon emissions could also prove beneficial in the near future. Global warming is an ongoing issue that is plaguing this planet for decades creating a negative impact on the environment such as a dip in the air quality and rising temperatures. This is a direct result of the rise in carbon emissions in the world. It is imperative that these emissions are reduced in order not to aggravate the problem even further. Singapore has pledged to cut down these emissions by 36 percent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement (todayonline, 2019). This can be aided by solar buses as they do not produce as much emissions as conventional buses relying solely on fossil fuels since solar power does not emit additional greenhouse gases during the conversion to electricity. These buses can therefore create a better living space for Singapore in the future as they can combat the rising emissions.

However, even with all the benefits, these solar buses come with certain implications. In its current state, these solar buses can’t rely solely on solar power. In the article “What Are Solar Panels and Why They’re Growing Globally”, (Goncalves, 2020), the best solar cell only boasts around 26.7% efficiency as most of the sunlight absorbed is wasted through conversion to heat energy. This is compounded by its dependence on proper weather and conditions to operate and power its electrical requirements. Hence these buses are not able to run purely on solar panels and still require a significant amount of natural gas and fossil fuels to function. Hence, unless there is a sudden leap in its technology, Singapore currently can’t ascertain that these buses or solar panels, in general, are able to fully sustain its energy needs in the future.

In conclusion, although these solar buses are primitive in terms of their technological capabilities currently, it is ultimately a step in the right direction in showing the possibilities in using solar panels to power the buses and allow Singapore to continue sustaining itself in the future.

(798 Words)

References

Kok, Y (2021) Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels. THE STRAITS TIMES.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/first-public-buses-with-solar-panels-hit-the-road-in-six-month-trial-by-go-ahead

Howarth, J (2019, Dec 2) When will fossil fuels run out? Octopus Energy

https://octopus.energy/blog/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out/

Singapore (2021) US Energy Information Administration retrieved February 12, 2022, from

https://www.eia.gov/international/analysis/country/SGP

Li, M (2018) International Benchmarking study of public transport fares. PTC

https://www.ptc.gov.sg/docs/default-source/publications-and-papers/ntu-benchmarking-report-2018.pdf

Ng, H S (2021) The upcoming bus and train fare increase: What you need to know. Channel News Asia

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/bus-train-fare-increase-what-you-need-know-2288756