Schneider Electric Singapore and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on green technologies and cybersecurity.

The partnership will explore the use of smart grid systems that combine various energy sources, including renewables, to improve power resilience.

Both organizations will examine the use of digital twins for building systems to monitor and optimize energy usage.

The agreement also includes efforts to strengthen cybersecurity for operational technology systems, which manage physical processes in facilities.

Schneider Electric and DSTA will exchange best practices in sustainability and cybersecurity as part of the collaboration.

🔗 Source: Schneider Electric

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Digital twins and smart grids deliver measurable efficiency gains

The technologies central to this partnership have demonstrated significant quantitative benefits in real-world deployments.

Studies show that building digital twins can improve energy efficiency by up to 40% during operational phases 1. Similarly, smart grid solutions using non-wires approaches can potentially increase utility grid capacity by up to 20% without requiring new physical infrastructure 2.

These benefits represent proven outcomes from existing implementations. The World Economic Forum estimates that comprehensive energy demand actions could reduce overall energy consumption by up to 31%, potentially saving $2 trillion annually while preventing significant emissions 3.

For Singapore’s context, this partnership addresses a substantial opportunity. The majority of Europe’s building stock was built before 2001, and similar patterns exist globally, presenting significant potential for energy efficiency improvements through digitalization 1.

The collaboration’s focus on combining renewable energy sources with smart grid technology aligns with these proven benefits, suggesting the partnership could deliver measurable improvements in Singapore’s energy infrastructure performance.

2️⃣ Cybersecurity becomes critical as green infrastructure expands

The partnership’s emphasis on Operational Technology cybersecurity addresses a growing vulnerability in sustainable infrastructure.

As green technologies become more digitized and interconnected, they face increased cyber threats that could disrupt energy supply and undermine sustainability goals 4. The 2021 Florida water treatment plant cyber breach demonstrates how attacks on critical infrastructure can have serious consequences 5.