Summary Reader Response #3 (Final Draft)
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). In an analysis by the US
Energy Information Administration (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 diversify their energy
source away from fossil fuels and subsequently reduce 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. In a report by the Public Transport Council (2018), Singapore ranks 2nd 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.
Today online reports that Singapore has pledged to cut down these emissions by
36 percent by 2030 under the Paris Agreement (“52.5m tonnes”, 2019). Solar
buses do not produce as many emissions as conventional buses that rely solely
on fossil fuels since solar power does not emit additional greenhouse gases
during the conversion to electricity. These buses are therefore a suitable
alternative that allows Singapore to preserve the environment and combat global
warming.
However, even with all the benefits,
these solar buses come with certain implications. In their current state, these
solar buses can’t rely solely on solar power. Goncalves, (2020), mentions that 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. This would mean that 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 currently primitive in terms of their capabilities, it is ultimately
a step in the right direction and shows the potential that they possess,
inspiring future advancements in technology. The benefits yielded would
therefore allow Singapore to thrive and survive in these arduous times and give
hope for the future.
(789 Words)
References
52.5m tonnes of greenhouse gases
generated by Singapore in 2017: MTI(2019, October 7) Today online
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/525m-tonnes-greenhouse-gases-generated-singapore-2017-mti
Goncalves, A (2020, May 29) What
Are Solar Panels and Why They’re Growing Globally.
https://youmatter.world/en/solar-panel-efficient-perovskites/
Howarth, J (2019, December 2) When
will fossil fuels run out? Octopus Energy
https://octopus.energy/blog/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out/
Kok, Y (2021, March 30) Go-Ahead
Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels. THE
STRAITS TIMES.
Public Transport Council (2018, September
24) International Benchmarking study of public transport fares.
https://www.ptc.gov.sg/docs/default-source/publications-and-papers/ntu-benchmarking-report-2018.pdf
Ng, H S (2021, November 3) 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
US Energy Information Administration (2021,
August) Singapore
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