Efficient resources use

Monitoring of carbon emissions covers more than 50 communities in the eco-city, offering advanced technologies that help provide important information so that local authorities can plan the use of urban resources efficiently, he said.

"The smart utilization and customization of power control and usage can extend to other practical fields. Tracking water and gas usage, for example, can help residents better manage their financial resources," Wang said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence solutions that respond to elderly residents' needs have also proved useful, he added.

Looking ahead, the challenge will be to fully transition from a traditional, coal-based electricity supply to installed capacity of new energy power generation, Wang said.

Teo, the SSTEC CEO, suggested that leveraging the private sector and market forces will also be useful going forward.

The aim is to develop the eco-city into a global business hub that taps the latest developments to rein in carbon emissions, Teo said.

"We see that as a global trend," he added. "There'll be a lot of new companies that think of new products and new services to reduce carbon emissions, or new technologies or new processes that will help reduce carbon emissions, for industries or construction."

"Hopefully we can be a hub for some of these industries so that they can produce really effective products and services that can then be applied in China or elsewhere in the world."

Teo said he expects more commercial development in the future.

"While these development projects are different in their demands, we can apply smart technologies to them to make sure that carbon emissions are always monitored and reduced effectively," Teo said.

"Going forward, it will not just be a sustainable city, it will be a sustainable, smart and low-carbon city."