summary reader response Draft 1

In the article "Go-Ahead Singapore (GAS) carries out a 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels," Kok (2021) describes it as a revolutionary method of incorporating solar energy into public transportation. According to the author, GAS conducted an experiment which found out that solar energy has helped to save “1,400 gallons of diesel per bus” which equates to a reduction of “3.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per year”. The article also claims that by implementing solar panels onto Singapore's public transportation, the amount of savings and benefits found during experiments would be even better due to the sunny and tropical environment of Singapore. While the implementation of solar panels onto the roofs of public transportation buses may provide a clean and green environment to the society, it is not suitable for countering the reliability of gaining solar energy because, the generation of power is mostly affected during the monsoon seasons and night-time where Singapore has.

Solar energy has grown in popularity across the world as a cost-effective and reliable alternative energy source. With the introduction of solar panel buses by Go-Ahead Singapore, this will greatly aid the country by lowering greenhouse emissions, which is one of the key global goals that is needed to combat global warming. The reduced carbon emissions will also greatly bring benefits to human health.

Firstly, Nhede reported that the cost of solar energy is likely to fall further and the growth in the solar industry will increase despite the absence of government funding according to a report released by Wood Mackenzie, a global research and consultancy (SMART ENERGY INTERNATIONAL, 2021). The generation of solar energy is now appealing due to the basis of its low cost. Over the last 20 years, the cost of solar has fallen by 90%, and it is expected to fall by another 15% to 25% by 2030. According to the report, countries such as Spain, Italy and India have achieved the goal by having solar to be the cheapest source of new power. Wood Mackenzie projects that the US state, as well as Canada and China are targeted to attain the same goal by 2030. As the COVID-19 epidemic are raging, global installations are expected to top 115GW by 2020, up from 1.5GW in 2006.

Secondly, the significant carbon emissions produced by heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks in metropolitan areas have resulted in both short- and long-term consequences such as air pollution and climate change. Hence, there is a need to reduce carbon footprints generated by introducing alternative source of energy.

Air pollution has been a major contributor to poor air quality in many nations. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) (2016), 98% of the cities with populations greater than 100,000, did not meet WHO criteria for the maximum production of air pollutants in low- and middle-income nations of 10 micrograms/cubic meter in the air (Brauer M et al., 2015). For example, nitrogen oxide emissions are a major problem in London, UK as the regulation limit value of 40 micrograms/cubic meter is not being fulfilled. In working towards zero-emissions, a policy of no needless idling has been implemented to minimise nitrogen oxide emission in central London (City of London, 2015). Additionally, Bauer et al. (2015) reported a population-weighted annual average values of PM25. In major cities such as Delhi-170, Dhaka-135 and Beijing-55 for PM25 in micrograms/cubic meter.

The long-term effects of CO2 emissions had led to climate change which has various negative implications such as rising temperatures, wildfires, and floods. Ayre J (2016) mentions that there are efforts to improve urban air quality in countries such as Norway to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles (EV). If electric buses are available to replace diesel-powered buses. Pollution associated with carbon emission will be reduced and air quality will significantly improve.

Third, transportation has a negative impact on health due to its negative impact on air quality. Many people experienced health problems because of it, and others had died as a result of it. Particulates in diesel exhaust frequently include chemical substances linked to cancer. The worldwide health costs of air pollution exceed one trillion dollars per year, and many fatalities are related to the effects of traffic on air quality. According to Priddle R (Ed.) (2016), World Health Organization (WHO) records around 6.5 million deaths per year due to air pollution. It is estimated that more than 4000 people have their life cut short each year due to poor air quality in London (City of London, 2015). Climate change is projected to have an influence on asthma and allergies by prolonging the growth seasons of pollen-producing flora. Hence, Reductions in carbon emissions are generally beneficial to air quality and health.

Counter argument (Installing a solar panel is expensive plus also discuss less effectiveness due to time and location)

However, not everything is all sunshine and rainbows. Kok(2021) stated that it takes around 4 years to recoup the cost of implementing the trial through fuel cost savings. Suggesting that the cost of incorporating solar panels is not a measly sum. Moreover, the effectiveness of the panels is not always going to guarantee maximum solar generation. According to Speed (2021), solar panels in Singapore are constrained by two factors: cloud cover and constant high temperatures. Obstructions caused by floating clouds limit the amount of solar power being generated, reducing its effectiveness while high temperatures emerge from the constant summer-like weather reduces the effectiveness of the photovoltaic cells. Lesser energy being produced ultimately affects the amount of cost being