Photo credit: ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG. Retrieved from straitstimes.com
Kusu Island, home to the popular Da Bo Gong Temple and three Malay keramat, is now completely self-reliant in using solar power to produce its own water and electricity, setting a precedent for other southern islands like Pulau Hantu.
The island’s solar photovoltaic (PV) and desalination systems became operational in the fourth quarter of 2022, in time for the island’s annual pilgrimage season, and could even support the surge in demand when a record 22,523 visitors went there in October 2023.
As backup, batteries housed in two 40-foot containers can store enough power to last two days in the event that the solar panels cannot produce electricity because of issues such as cloud cover or rain.