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

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.

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

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.Paper titled “Geothermal potential in Singapore explored with non-invasive seismic data” published in Engineering Geology, 15 February 2025.