EMA - Energy Market Authority
27/06/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Ensuring Power System Reliability Through Innovation
Featured Stories 28 Jun 2024
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EMA has a team of officers working 24/7 to manage the entire power system in Singapore.
\r\n"}}">EMA has a team of officers working 24/7 to manage the entire power system in Singapore.
Today, Singapore's power system is one of the most reliable in the world.
\nHowever, our energy landscape is evolving. As Singapore adopts cleaner energy sources such as solar power and low-carbon electricity imports, new challenges arise. To ensure everyone continues to enjoy the dependable power supply we have today, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) is always on the lookout to enhance our power system to meet Singapore's future energy needs reliably.
\nThis is where our newly upgraded Energy Management System comes in. It is a mission-critical system designed to monitor, control and optimise the performance of the entire country's power network in real-time.
\nAt any given time, it receives over 340,000 data points from electricity substations across the country and transmits the information to the Power System Control Centre, the nerve centre of the power system.
\n"}}" id="text-5b8c3c8d3e" class="cmp-text">Today, Singapore's power system is one of the most reliable in the world.
However, our energy landscape is evolving. As Singapore adopts cleaner energy sources such as solar power and low-carbon electricity imports, new challenges arise. To ensure everyone continues to enjoy the dependable power supply we have today, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) is always on the lookout to enhance our power system to meet Singapore's future energy needs reliably.
This is where our newly upgraded Energy Management System comes in. It is a mission-critical system designed to monitor, control and optimise the performance of the entire country's power network in real-time.
At any given time, it receives over 340,000 data points from electricity substations across the country and transmits the information to the Power System Control Centre, the nerve centre of the power system.
Making Smart Systems Smarter
Goh Chia Jin, Assistant Director from the Energy Management Systems Department looks after the EMS II which involves round the clock monitoring and control of the power system in Singapore. He is also the project manager who oversaw the enhancements for EMS II.
\r\n"}}">Goh Chia Jin, Assistant Director from the Energy Management Systems Department looks after the EMS II which involves round the clock monitoring and control of the power system in Singapore. He is also the project manager who oversaw the enhancements for EMS II.
The upgraded system comes with several new features.
\n"With the enhanced EMS (EMS II), we can better integrate new energy sources more effectively and keep the power grid stable. This is crucial for achieving our net-zero goal," Goh Chia Jin, Assistant Director in the Energy Management Systems Department of EMA said.
\n"For consumers, a stable power system means they will continue to enjoy the same reliable power supply for all their daily needs."
\nThe system now uses a solar forecasting model that takes into account various sources of data, including real-time, island-wide solar irradiance data and satellite images, to forecast solar photovoltaic (PV) output more accurately. This allows EMA to take pre-emptive actions to manage solar intermittency and balance electricity supply and demand.
\n"}}" id="text-511fa3a113" class="cmp-text">The upgraded system comes with several new features.
"With the enhanced EMS (EMS II), we can better integrate new energy sources more effectively and keep the power grid stable. This is crucial for achieving our net-zero goal," Goh Chia Jin, Assistant Director in the Energy Management Systems Department of EMA said.
"For consumers, a stable power system means they will continue to enjoy the same reliable power supply for all their daily needs."
The system now uses a solar forecasting model that takes into account various sources of data, including real-time, island-wide solar irradiance data and satellite images, to forecast solar photovoltaic (PV) output more accurately. This allows EMA to take pre-emptive actions to manage solar intermittency and balance electricity supply and demand.
Solar irradiance is a measure of the amount of solar output which varies across different parts of Singapore, as reflected by the colour intensity in the map above. Click here for the latest solar irradiance.
\r\n"}}">Solar irradiance is a measure of the amount of solar output which varies across different parts of Singapore, as reflected by the colour intensity in the map above. Click here for the latest solar irradiance.
The EMS II comes with expanded capabilities to manage energy storage systems (ESS) as well. When there are fluctuations in power supply, the system is able to send signals to the ESS to charge or discharge as needed. This helps in ensuring a stable supply to meet the ebbs and flows of electricity use. In the past, the EMS could only monitor and control conventional power generators such as power plants.
\nAnother feature of the EMS II is intelligent alarm processing. "In times of power disruptions, the system can sieve through the large amounts of data and prioritise them based on severity and urgency. This helps the system operators to respond and decide on the solutions swiftly," Chia Jin explained. This reduces the downtime and boosts system reliability for consumers.
\nAs with all computer systems, the EMS II is not immune to cybersecurity threats. It now includes features that guard against cyberattacks. For instance, it has a detection and response tool that monitors and collects data from the power network to flag up and respond to cybersecurity threats.
\n"}}" id="text-bcd82f1775" class="cmp-text">The EMS II comes with expanded capabilities to manage energy storage systems (ESS) as well. When there are fluctuations in power supply, the system is able to send signals to the ESS to charge or discharge as needed. This helps in ensuring a stable supply to meet the ebbs and flows of electricity use. In the past, the EMS could only monitor and control conventional power generators such as power plants.
Another feature of the EMS II is intelligent alarm processing. "In times of power disruptions, the system can sieve through the large amounts of data and prioritise them based on severity and urgency. This helps the system operators to respond and decide on the solutions swiftly," Chia Jin explained. This reduces the downtime and boosts system reliability for consumers.
As with all computer systems, the EMS II is not immune to cybersecurity threats. It now includes features that guard against cyberattacks. For instance, it has a detection and response tool that monitors and collects data from the power network to flag up and respond to cybersecurity threats.
Powering Through Challenges
For critical infrastructure like the power system, these new features could not have come at a better time.
\nReflecting on the journey, Chia Jin shared, "Bringing the EMS II to fruition was not without its challenges. However, we persevered and turned the project into a reality. Everyone in the Power System Control Division, including myself, is committed to our role as the Power System Operator to ensure reliable power supply for our nation's needs."
\n"}}" id="text-ef2514e2b6" class="cmp-text">For critical infrastructure like the power system, these new features could not have come at a better time.
Reflecting on the journey, Chia Jin shared, "Bringing the EMS II to fruition was not without its challenges. However, we persevered and turned the project into a reality. Everyone in the Power System Control Division, including myself, is committed to our role as the Power System Operator to ensure reliable power supply for our nation's needs."
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