Singapore-based company Sembcorp Floating Solar Singapore and the country’s national water agency, Public Utilities Board (PUB), have opened the Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm at Singapore’s Tengeh Reservoir.

Claimed to be one of the world’s largest inland floating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, the 60MWp farm covers a 45ha area and is equipped with 122,000 solar panels.

Sembcorp started construction works on the project last August and completed them on schedule.

The company, which owns and operates the project, said that the Tengeh Floating Solar Farm was carefully designed to reduce the impact on the reservoir’s water quality, flora and fauna.

The project will also use drone electroluminescence imaging technology to detect issues in the system so they can be resolved. This will be the world’s first utility-scale PV system to use such technology.

Sembcorp Industries Group president and CEO Wong Kim Yin said: “The Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm is a crown jewel in our portfolio and a showcase for Singapore.

“As the leading homegrown renewable energy player, Sembcorp has more than 3,300MW of renewable energy assets around the world. We are committed, and have the track record and competencies, to support the Singapore Green Plan.”

The facility will generate enough clean energy to power Singapore’s five local water treatment plants while offsetting almost 7% of PUB’s annual energy needs and reducing its carbon footprint.

The project is also expected to help Singapore to quadruple its solar energy production by 2025.

PUB chief executive Ng Joo Hee said: “With this floating solar power plant, which we believe to be one of the largest in the world, PUB takes a big step towards enduring energy sustainability in water treatment.

“Solar energy is plentiful, clean and green, and is key to reducing PUB’s and Singapore’s carbon footprint.”

Sembcorp secured the contract to build the solar PV system last May.