Open RFP on Innovative Technologies across the Water Loop

Overview

PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, has launched an open Request-for-Proposal (RFP) under the Competitive Funding for Water Research (CWR) Funding Initiative to seek innovative technologies and solutions in energy and waste reduction, decarbonisation and water quality.

This RFP is open to Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), public sector entities and private sector entities based in Singapore or overseas. Overseas entities must be registered in Singapore.

RFP 2301

Singapore’s water demand is projected to almost double by 2065 with economic and population growth. In tandem, energy consumption required for producing and supplying water and sludge generation – a byproduct of the water treatment process – will also increase. With climate change, the risk of prolonged drought will also impact our water supply. Among Singapore’s Four National Taps¹, both NEWater and desalinated water are weather-resilient but more energy intensive water sources. PUB's research and development (R&D) goals are thus aimed at reducing energy and chemical consumption, as well as waste production, while also increasing Singapore’s water resources and improving water quality. These efforts would also serve to moderate PUB’s operating costs in the long term, as we meet the rising water needs of the nation.
 
For this RFP, PUB is keen to advance new and existing ideas, as well as develop breakthrough technologies in the following R&D areas:

• Desalination, water reuse and used water treatment: To reduce the energy consumption at system level for seawater desalination and NEWater production. For used water treatment, PUB aims to attain energy self-sufficiency and eventually develop an energy-positive water reclamation plant.

• Waste reduction and resource recovery: To reduce sludge production in water and used water treatment, recover useful resources from seawater brine and other waste streams of the water loop, as well as reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Resources, metals, or minerals that are recovered from seawater brine should either have value to industry or be usable as chemicals in PUB's water treatment plants.

• Decarbonisation: To capture, remove and utilise carbon dioxide from the environment using technologies that can be integrated with PUB’s operations.

• Water quality and security: To maintain high water quality standards and more secure water resources for the nation’s needs through protection of source water, monitoring of water quality in treatment, distribution and sewers, and management of contaminants of emerging concern.

There are two tracks under the RFP – the first solicits for novel ideas and technologies with focus on the abovementioned R&D areas, while the second focuses on translating and scaling up promising technologies with the end goal of commercialising or integrating the solutions with PUB’s operations. The maximum funding amounts are S$1.5 million and S$2 million for the first and second tracks respectively.

More details on the RFP 2301 can be found in the Fact Sheet and Integrated Grant Management System (IGMS) website.

[1] The Four National Taps are local catchment water, imported water, reclaimed water (NEWater) and desalinated water.

Details on Information Session

The RFP Information Session will be conducted in hybrid format. Details of the physical session are as follows:

Date: Thursday, 9 November 2023 
Time: 2.00pm – 5.00pm  
Physical Meeting Venue: Pierce Auditorium, Level 2, SgWA, 80 Toh Guan Road East, Waterhub, 608575

The physical session has a maximum capacity of 130 pax on a first-come first-served basis. Interested parties can also choose to join virtually via Teams. To register, please RSVP via https://go.gov.sg/rfp2301-infosession by 2 November 2023.

To enable a targeted and fruitful session, you are welcome to send in questions on the RFP beforehand by email to PUB_research@pub.gov.sg.