Summary Reader Response 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. 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 reduction in fuel usage when using solar panels would equate to a reduction in additional expenditure which is essential as Today online mentions that fuel prices are at an all-time high (Ng, 2022). The solar panels would therefore reduce the cost of running the buses, enabling 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 the solar panel's dependence on proper weather and conditions to operate and power the buses' 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.
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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
Ng, J S. (2022, February 8) Explainer: Why are Singapore's fuel pump prices at record highs and what does it mean for the economy? Today Online
US Energy Information Administration. (2021, August) Analysis - Singapore
Thanks for the revision, Karim.
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