Lower Seletar solar plan: Detailed environmental impact study soon

A detailed study of the environmental impacts of constructing a floating solar farm in Lower Seletar Reservoir - which could potentially be Singapore's largest - will be conducted soon.

National water agency PUB told The Straits Times that the reservoir has been identified by the National Parks Board as a key corridor in facilitating animal movements among the core habitats of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Simpang-Khatib Bongsu and Coney Island.

PUB is hence committed to conducting detailed environmental studies and impact assessment, to ensure that any solar panel deployment is done in an environmentally sensitive manner, said its spokesman.

To help Singapore meet its clean energy needs, it had previously identified the Lower Seletar Reservoir as a potential site for a large-scale solar farm of 100 megawatt-peak (MWp) and Pandan Reservoir for a 44MWp system.

Feasibility studies are being planned to determine the viability of putting up solar panels at both reservoirs, as the Republic aims to install at least 2GWp of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity by 2030.

Singapore's first large-scale floating solar farm was rolled out at Tengeh Reservoir in July 2021, with a capacity of 60MWp.

PUB said the proposed installation of solar panels in Lower Seletar Reservoir would take up about a third of the reservoir's surface area. Its spokesman added that at Tengeh Reservoir, an environmental impact study and an environmental monitoring and management plan were conducted to minimise the impact of installing the solar panels during the construction and post-construction stages.

Findings and observations revealed that there has been no observable change in the reservoir's water quality, said PUB.

The solar PV system is also designed to allow sufficient sunlight and air to enter the water, thereby supporting aquatic life and minimising any impacts on the water quality of the reservoir, it added.

Aerators were also deployed to maintain the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water.

"We have seen grey herons, white-bellied sea eagles, and grey-headed fish eagles around the floating solar panel installation, with camera traps capturing otters on the solar panel system," said the PUB spokesman.

Nature enthusiasts, however, expressed concern that birds from forested areas surrounding the Lower Seletar Reservoir may experience a loss of feeding areas if the floating solar panels are deployed.

Dr Shawn Lum, president of Nature Society (Singapore), said the reservoir is bordered by secondary forests containing many albizia trees, which are tall, fast-growing and serve as an important habitat for large birds such as the white-bellied sea eagle and the locally endangered grey-headed fish eagle.

These eagles are dependent on areas where fish abound, such as in the catchment reservoirs. Other birds such as terns may also feed on fish, while swallows and bats may skim the water surface for insects.

These animals could be impacted by the loss of feeding areas, and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) would be needed to determine the extent to which such wildlife uses the Lower Seletar Reservoir, and the likely impacts of floating solar farms on these species, said Dr Lum.

PUB has launched a tender for an EIA at the Lower Seletar Reservoir. An assessment of the solar panel deployment via environmental indicators will be carried out, followed by mitigation measures and an environmental monitoring and management plan. The entire EIA process is expected to take about 11/2 years.

Dr Lum, however, pointed out that the EIA would not be able to address the "cumulative impacts" of water surfaces being gradually lost to floating solar farms.

"The assumption might be that if birds cannot feed at Lower Seletar, perhaps they could fly over to another reservoir or the Johor Strait to feed, but if much of our reservoir space is used for solar power generation, then reservoir-dependent wildlife would be impacted severely," he added.

This does not mean that Singapore should hold back on constructing floating solar farms - but instead it should have a "holistic view" of the ecosystem and wildlife impacts on a larger scale, to better assess the risks and mitigate or avert them if possible.

Asked whether an EIA will similarly be conducted at Pandan Reservoir, PUB said it would not be required as the solar PV system would not be deployed near areas with sensitive biodiversity or habitats and vegetation. It will still be conducting studies such as water quality monitoring. Multiple biodiversity surveys to determine the food web at Pandan Reservoir have also been carried out, said its spokesman.