This work package investigates socioeconomic factors of urban integrated photovoltaics, with major research questions revolving around barriers and drivers of PV deployment, stakeholder investment decisions, and social acceptance. The research includes an analysis of policy instruments (incentives, tariffs, regulations, etc.), behavioral aspects (nudges, sense of community, etc.), and market mechanisms (e.g., PV ownership concepts, spot market participation).

A focus of the research lies on the study of Advanced Energy Community (AEC), which is an energy community (under one substation),  enabling a combination of district & individual-level solutions, such as photovoltaic (PV), BESS (Battery Energy Storage System), district cooling system, demand flexibility, public space utilization, and load pooling. While the economic and environmental benefits of AEC have already been extensively examined in the literature, the potential of AEC to expedite the PV adoption rate in densely populated tropical urban centers, such as Singapore, remains inadequately evaluated. To address this gap, we develop an optimization-based framework to assess the potential and drivers of the AEC model to accelerate PV adoption across Singapore.

Schemes of existing and AEC business models in Singapore © ETH Zürich

Team /
Dr. Kang Jidong, Assoc. Prof. Fu Yuming, Prof. Dr. Sing Tien Foo

Publications /
1 / Kang, J. D., Fu, Y. M., Xie, B. C., Waibel, C., 2023. A stochastic-robust equilibrium model for coordination of decentralized capacity investment in energy communities (under review).
2 / Kang, J. D., Mosteiro-Romero, M., Fu, Y. M., Waibel, C., 2023. Accelerating PV Adoption in Singapore: The Potential of Advanced Energy Communities. Science of Cities Symposium 2023.
3 / L. N. Jia and T. F. Sing, “Commentary: Is it a curse or a blessing when your HDB flat is picked for SERS?” Singapore, May 2022. [Online]. Link.
4 / T. F. Sing and S. T. H. Sun, “The rise - and huge potential - of ChinaReits,” Singapore, Jan. [Online]. Link.
5 / L. Lopez and T. F. Sing, “Challenges and opportunities for hospitality Reits in the post-Covid race,” Singapore, Jan 2023. [Online]. Link.
6 / S. Oh and T. F. Sing, “More incentives needed to encourage wider use of solar panels among building owners: NUS poll,” Singapore, Aug 2023. [Online]. Link.