By early 2025, Changi Airport will be home to Singapore's largest rooftop solar project. A collaboration between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Keppel Ltd. will realize this ambitious solar photovoltaic (PV) project. It involves the design, construction and operation of an extensive solar PV system across multiple sites at Changi Airport. This initiative marks a significant step forward in Singapore's renewable energy efforts.
Scheduled for completion in early 2025, the project aims to install an integrated PV solar system of 43 megawatts peak (MWp). Of this capacity, 38 MWp will be installed on rooftops, making Changi Airport the site with the largest rooftop PV solar installation in Singapore. In addition, there are plans to generate 5 MWp from rooftop PV systems on the airfield, demonstrating innovative steps in harnessing solar energy beyond traditional rooftop areas. These systems will be installed on 40,000 m2 of turf outside the aircraft operations area at Changi Airport.
Once operational, the rooftop and airfield PV systems are expected to generate enough energy to power more than 10,000 four-bedroom HDB flats annually. This significant contribution is in line with CAG's commitment to reduce carbon emissions, with an estimated emission reduction of approximately 20,000 tons per year, or about 10% of its 2019 emissions consumption.
CAG has partnered with SolarGY to transform the airport's maintenance and storage center into a greener environment by installing a 640 kWp rooftop PV system. This move is expected to reduce the facility's emissions by 50%, making it a significant effort to reduce its environmental impact.
However, the installation of PV solar systems at the airport presents unique challenges compared to conventional installations at commercial, industrial, or residential sites. For this reason, simulation studies are conducted before installation to ensure optimal positioning of the solar panels. This is done to ensure that the panels do not create light reflections that could interfere with air traffic controllers and pilots operating around the airport.
The effects of light reflection, which can manifest as glare or dazzle, can reduce the visibility of air traffic controllers and pilots to surrounding air traffic, potentially compromising passenger safety.
In terms of cost, CAG has chosen not to disclose specific details of the cost of the PV solar project due to the sensitivity of commercial information. However, they emphasize the importance of adhering to aviation safety requirements in the installation and maintenance processes of the PV solar system to ensure the operational safety of the airport.
To ensure operational smoothness, the integration of Keppel's Nadi Operations Center (ONC) at the Keppel Infrastructure@Changi complex is crucial. The ONC is responsible for remote monitoring, real-time reporting, and advanced fault handling of solar generation performance. Through the use of artificial intelligence technology and machine learning algorithms, the ONC is expected to provide optimal energy management, predictive maintenance, and overall operational performance improvement.
