Non-invasive study finds new high-potential geothermal energy site in Yishun

Image: The research team setting up sensors and information board on site.

NTU researchers have found evidence of a highly fractured, water-saturated geothermal underground reservoir southeast of the Sembawang Hot Spring, located in the Yishun district.

Leveraging advanced seismic imaging techniques to explore underground heat potential in northern Singapore, the NTU team found a geothermal reservoir, sitting above a depth of around 4 km.

The geothermal reservoir is believed to be supplied by deep underground aquifers - water-bearing layers of rock or sediment that store groundwater deep beneath the Earth's surface - potentially offering a sustainable heat source.

Led by researchers from NTU’s School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences and Earth Observatory of Singapore, the study provides the first non-invasive geophysical investigation and evidence of a viable geothermal reservoir in Singapore.

The findings establish a scientific basis for further geothermal exploration in Yishun, supporting Singapore’s ambition to develop green energy resources to meet growing electricity demands and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.