PULAU UBIN, Singapore's last rural enclave, will soon be transformed into a high tech test site for renewable energies.

The Energy Market Authority on Friday announced plans to embark on a project to turn Pulau Ubin into a model 'green island' powered entirely by clean and renewable energy.

RELATED LINKS  A graphical preview of green solutions on Pulau Ubin

'We want to use technologies that will best integrate into the island's natural environment,' said Mr David Tan, deputy chief executive of the authority's energy policy and planning division.

Aside from solar panels and using waste as fuel for energy generation, electricity could also be produced from a hydrogen fuel cell plant, biofuels or turbines powered by wind or waves.

'The key is finding the right fit,' said Mr Tan.

The project will be sited near the Ubin jetty. Others details are not finalised yet.

Pulau Ubin, to the northeast of Singapore, does not draw electricity from the mainland's main power grid, because demand is low and transmission cables would be too expensive to lay.

Instead, the 100 villagers there use diesel generators, which are not environmentally friendly.

A tender for a consultancy study has already been called, and the project will be awarded later in November.

The six-month study, slated for completion in May, will look at how much energy is needed by residents on the 10 sq km island, and the most cost effective combination of renewable energy technologies that can be used.

The Ubin project is the latest in a slew of programmes to transform Singapore into a global centre for clean R&D.

In September, the National Envrionment Agency announced plans to convert the Semaukau landfill into a renewable energy test site cum eco-park.

The government has also pumped some $170 million into boosting the clean sector, with plans to build a business park devoted to companies specialising in clean technologies and products. The first building in the 55-ha site at Jalan Bahar is expected to be completed in 2010.