Singapore’s low-carbon electricity 2035 target is ‘aspirational’: EMA
How much of it materialising will depend on factors such as the extent of commercial demand
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) in Singapore has clarified that their goal of importing 6 gigawatts (GW) of low-carbon electricity by 2035 is "aspirational." This statement comes in response to a report from global consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie, which suggests Singapore is unlikely to achieve this target. According to Wood Mackenzie, low-carbon electricity imports are expected to contribute only half of the planned 6 GW, or 15% of Singapore's total power generation by 2035.
Currently, Singapore relies primarily on natural gas for electricity, generating 95% of its power from this source. The EMA has issued conditional licences and approvals for importing renewable energy from countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Australia, with a combined capacity of 9.25 GW. However, none of these approved projects have yet begun construction.
The projects most likely to start operations by 2035 are the two in Malaysia, aiming to import 900MW from Johor and around 1 GW from Sarawak. For projects from Indonesia, regulatory hurdles and need for export permits complicate matters, while Vietnam, Cambodia, and Australia's projects lack construction timelines. EMA maintains that these imports are crucial for decarbonizing the power sector and diversifying energy sources.
While the focus remains on low-carbon electricity imports, Singapore is also exploring solar, biomethane, ammonia, and geothermal energy, as well as advanced nuclear technology. The EMA has also renewed partnerships with a Hong Kong agency to enhance energy security and resilience, including in emerging areas like AI and digital power grids.
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