EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY: TOWARDS NEW URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The Fuel Cell Technology was invented in the late 19th Century; however, it is finding an application today when the world is in the midst of an energy crisis. The effect of this crisis is felt several times over in a small and densely populated place like Singapore, which is compelled to use minimal land for electricity infrastructure and pay a higher price for the fuel bought from neighbours to meet its domestic requirements. This explains Singapore’s pursuit in developing new Energy-generating technologies like the Fuel Cells that have the potential of being cheaper, cleaner and more importantly, space effective. Most of the inferences drawn through this paper are geared towards answering the question of how Fuel Cell technology can contribute in the creation of a better built environment by playing down its constraints of infrastructure that planners need to adhere to.

The methodology adopted is to study how the present mode of Centralized electricity production and supply in Singapore is planned for its space and infrastructure requirements highlighting its constraints and disadvantages. Thereafter an assessment of Fuel Cell Technology is carried out to gauge how it can address the constraints of Centralized electricity system and its adverse effects on the environment.