THE FUTURE OF LOW-CARBON ALTERNATIVES
The advancement of nuclear energy may make other low-carbon forms of energy more viable in Singapore. Some sectors, such as aviation transport, are hard to electrify. Hydrogen can serve as an alternative to the pollutive jet fuel that is currently used by airlines.
However, hydrogen is presently produced using natural gas which is counter-effective in reducing carbon emissions. It is inefficient and costly to produce clean hydrogen through electrolysis from concentrated solar power.
With SMRs, hydrogen can be more efficiently produced via the thermochemical process. Advanced reactors such as the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor produces great amounts of heat to split water molecules and produce hydrogen.
Through nuclear, Singapore can sustain a hydrogen economy that is environmentally friendly.
Nuclear will feature prominently as a energy source in countries’ decarbonisation efforts. Though the technology has been developing since the 1950s, it is still nascent in Singapore and the region.
Therefore, policymakers should not rush into making decisions on deploying nuclear energy. Building up capabilities to assess the safe and secure deployment of nuclear energy is the rational approach.
Alvin Chew is Senior Fellow at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
