5. Housing and energy and land scarcity mean that Singapore cannot afford to leverage its sustainably grown domestic biomass, and 5.1 Singapore energy overview they also create safety issues regarding any potential implementation of a nuclear plant. In the Smart Nation, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) has been working toward energy transition over the last fifty years (EMA, 2020). Aware of the negative effects of climate change, the EMA established four main “switches” that will be required to anticipate and adapt to changes in terms of energy consumption (EMA, 2020): •A Complete Switch to Natural Gas. Today, about 95 percent of Singapore’s electricity is generated from natural gas, which will continue to be a dominant fuel for Singapore in the near future. Singapore has no immediate plan to reduce its gas dependency. However, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) aims to enhance the energy efficiency and competitiveness of power generation companies via programs like the Genco These challenges are slowing down the implementation of a Energy Efficiency Grant Call. To incentivize power generation robust renewable energy program within the Smart Nation. companies, EMA can grant them up to 50 percent of the Nevertheless, Singapore will focus on making solar panels a qualifying costs (Energy Market Authority (EMA)); larger part of its overall energy mix. •Switch to Solar Energy. This renewable energy source in Singapore is the most promising, and the Smart Nation 5.2 Housing and energy efficiency has achieved its 2020 target of 350 megawatts of energy generated through solar means. The long-term objective is The Singapore 2015 framework helped to launch the Housing to reach at least two gigawatts by 2030 while improving the and Development Board (HDB), which promotes solar panels country’s energy storage capacity; and accelerates installations of them on buildings. The •Implement Regional Power Grids. This would facilitate low HDB has around ten thousand residential blocks under its energy prices by boosting bilateral cooperation and fostering management, meaning that the agency has a vital role to play regional initiatives; in climate transition. •Consider EmergingLow-Carbon Alternatives. The EMA is also looking into emerging low-carbon solutions (for example, In alignment with the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies, framework, published in 2015, the HDB has developed hydrogen). These have the potential to help Singapore to cut a Sustainable Development Framework to ensure that down its carbon footprint. sustainable building design initiatives will be implemented (HDB website, 2020). Moreover, the Building Research Institute The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) in Singapore (BRI), the research arm of the HDB, is focusing principally falls under the Strategy Group of the Prime Minister’s Office. On on building and environmental sustainability within five key its website, the NCCS acknowledges that Singapore’s approach population clusters (HDB website, 2020): to alternative energy is complicated by the three following • Provide Energy Efficiency: In parallel to its focus on the smart factors (NCCS, 2020): grid, the BRI is looking at passive design strategies, energy- •Wind turbines currently on the market operate with a wind efficient solutions, and alternative energy sources. All these speed of around 4.5 meters per second. In the Smart Nation, would reduce the environmental impact of buildings’ energy the average wind speed is around two meters per second, consumption; making the implementation of wind turbines useless. In • Implement More Urban Greenery: The BRI has studied the addition, Singapore does not have the space required for benefits of green covers and other related solutions such as wind turbines; vertical greening and biodiversity; •Tidal power generation is also difficult, because Singapore’s • Waste and WaterEfficiency: The BRI has been looking at water seas are relatively calm, and the coastal area is occupied by conservation, waste, and recyclables management solutions; ports, limiting scope for the installation of such technology; • Building Technologies: The BRI is looking at how to reduce •The country’s small physical size, high population density, the environmental impacts of buildings by analyzing 156 Quélin and Smadja | HEC PARIS | SMART CITIES | The sustainable program of six leading cities | 2021