Singapore is trying out innovative ways of securing energy supply, with the latest attempt being the transfer of an electron from the world’s first remote-controlled floating lab to the national electricity grid.

This was carried out by offshore, marine and energy specialist Seatrium, which is listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

Seatrium achieved this energy transfer from its floating living lab, which is located off its yard in Pioneer. The lab is the world’s first remote-controlled floating platform for distributing energy resources.

It was built in 2025 and was developed through a partnership between Seatrium and the Energy Market Authority that was announced in 2020.

The floating lab is controlled and monitored by a remote operations centre located about 1km away from the site, which helps to reduce the manpower required on the floating platform itself.

Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng witnessed the transfer of the first electron from the platform to the electricity grid on July 3.

Seatrium Digital senior vice-president Lee Wey Lii told The Straits Times on July 10: “The first electron transfer validates that Seatrium has successfully developed a floating distributed energy resource platform that can support both on-land grid and marine energy needs.”

He added that this is particularly significant because Singapore’s electricity grid has stringent connection and export requirements.

“The milestone demonstrates that a marine-classed floating platform can meet the relevant regulatory and technical standards required to connect,” Lee said.

-The Strait Times