Wikipedia

Energy Market Authority

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of Singapore.[1]

Energy Market Authority of Singapore
Agency overview
Formed1 April 2001; 23 years ago (2001-04-01)
Preceding agency
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters991G Alexandra Road, #01-29 & #02-29, Singapore 119975
Agency executives
  • Richard Lim Cherng Yih, Chairman
  • Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Executive
Parent agencyMinistry of Trade and Industry
Websitewww.ema.gov.sg

History edit

The EMA was set up on 1 April 2001 to take over the regulatory functions of the Public Utilities Board, and the operations of the power grid by SP PowerGrid. The agency's goals are to oversee the further liberalisation and inject competition into the electricity and gas industries in Singapore, ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, and creating a dynamic energy sector in Singapore.

Roles edit

EMA performs three key roles:[2]

  • Power Systems Operator: EMA is responsible for the reliable supply of electricity to consumers in Singapore. Its Power System Control Centre acts as the nerve centre to oversee the electricity and gas transmission systems and power generation plants.
  • Industry Regulator: EMA regulates the gas and electricity industries in Singapore as well as district cooling services in designated areas.
  • Industry Developer: EMA fosters a dynamic energy sector by catalysing research and innovation, facilitating deployment of promising energy solutions, developing a future-ready workforce and engaging both regional and international stakeholders.

Industry Regulation edit

As a regulator, EMA issues licenses to companies involved in the generation, retail and transmission of electricity. EMA also oversees the application of electrical worker licences.

Liberalisation of Singapore's Energy Market edit

The liberalisation of the energy market started in July 2001 when EMA allowed companies with electricity demand of 2 megawatts (MW) and above to buy electricity from a retailer of their choice. Over the years, the threshold for commercial and industrial consumers who were allowed to switch to their preferred retailer was gradually lowered.[3]

The final phase of liberalisation took place in 2018 when households and small business consumers could also buy electricity from a retailer of their choice. Known as the Open Electricity Market initiative, it started with a soft launch in Jurong in April 2018 before it was extended to the rest of Singapore from November 2018 to May 2019.[4]

As of 30 April 2021, 49 per cent of household accounts and 47 per cent of business accounts have switched to buying electricity from a retailer of their choice.[5]

Energy Research and Innovation edit

In 2011, EMA was provided funding under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2015 plan to motivate innovation in the areas of power utilities, smart grids, and energy storage to address key challenges that were relevant to the industry.[6] Funds were set aside in the RIE 2020[7][8][9] and 2025 plans,[10] where EMA has worked with companies to develop new solutions[buzzword] for the energy sector. EMA had awarded over $100 million in grants in total to over 60 companies, and 20 Institutes of Higher Learning and Research Institutes.[11]

EMA also launched the Singapore Energy Grand Challenge (Industry & Research Community) in 2020 to foster collaboration between the industry and research community in Singapore.[12]

Power Sector Workforce edit

In 2012, an industry-led Power Sector Manpower Taskforce was set up to identify and recommend strategies to retain and build a strong Singaporean core in the sector.[13] The taskforce submitted three key recommendations to tackle manpower issues in the power sector:[14]

  1. Establish an attraction, retention and development framework
  2. Launch a sector-wide branding exercise
  3. Adopt a coordinated approach to drive manpower efforts

Following the review, EMA implemented new initiatives, including the National Energy Competency Framework, the sector's first competency framework in 2015[15] (now known as the Skills Framework for Energy and Power[16]).

To attract youth to join the energy sector, EMA introduced structured, experiential learning journeys known as the Powering Lives Trail.[17] EMA also organises Youth@SIEW, held on the sidelines of the annual Singapore International Energy Week. This youth-targeted event includes dialogues with government and industry leaders, career journey sharing sessions by energy-sector professionals and a showcase of energy-related projects by students.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "EMA invites proposals that could help firms improve energy efficiency by 50% by 2030".
  2. ^ "EMA's Roles". Energy Market Authority. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. ^ Urban Systems Studies: Energising Singapore: Balancing Liveability and Growth (First ed.). Singapore: Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), Singapore. 2018. pp. 46–49.
  4. ^ "Rollout of the Open Electricity Market". Open Electricity Market. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Open Electricity Market Statistics". Open Electricity Market. 14 June 2022.
  6. ^ Energise, Electrify, Empower: 20 Years and Beyond. Singapore: Energy Market Authority. 2021. p. 64. ISBN 9-789811-824272.
  7. ^ "New National Technology Roadmaps to Address Energy and Climate Change Challenges Unveiled at Energy Innovation 2016". www.nccs.gov.sg. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  8. ^ "How the Singapore Government plans to boost solar power capacity to 1 gigawatt peak beyond 2020 from 140 megawatt peak today". OpenGov Asia. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  9. ^ Energising Singapore: Balancing Liveability and Growth. Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore. 2018. pp. 72–73. ISBN 9-789811-190896.
  10. ^ "Urban Solutions and Sustainability". Nrf. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Research Innovation, Enterprise and Deployment | EMA Singapore". www.ema.gov.sg. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  12. ^ Mui, Rachel (8 September 2020). "EMA invites proposals that could help firms improve energy efficiency by 50% by 2030". The Business Times. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Taskforce to Develop Manpower Capabilities in Singapore's Power Sector" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  14. ^ "SIEW 2013: EMA leads efforts to grow Singapore's power sector workforce". www.siew.gov.sg. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  15. ^ Chan, Yi Wen (11 June 2015). "EMA launches framework to meet Singapore power sector's manpower needs". www.businesstimes.com.sg. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  16. ^ "SSG | Skills Framework for Energy and Power". www.skillsfuture.gov.sg. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Powering Lives Trails (Experiential Learning Journeys)". www.poweringlives.gov.sg. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
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