Singapore moves to import more low-carbon electricity from Indonesia

IMPORT TARGET RAISED

In 2021, Singapore set its sights on importing up to 4GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035. 

Since then, it received over 20 proposals from multiple countries, demonstrating the viability of low-carbon electricity imports as a pathway for decarbonising the power sector, said EMA.

The power sector currently accounts for about 40 per cent of Singapore’s carbon emissions.

In total, EMA has issued conditional approvals to nine projects so far, including the five that have advanced to conditional licences. 

These projects include Keppel Energy’s proposal to import 1GW of low-carbon electricity from Cambodia and Sembcorp Utilities’ proposal to import 1.2GW from Vietnam. 

“Given the encouraging progress of electricity import projects and to ensure adequate supply to meet our future energy needs given growing demand, Singapore will raise its ambition and seek to import 6GW by 2035,” said EMA.

It added that it would continue to study all decarbonisation pathways for the power sector. 

These included hydrogen, solar, deep geothermal energy, nuclear energy, as well as carbon capture and storage technologies.

“As Singapore decarbonises, EMA will also seek to strike an optimal balance between energy security, sustainability, and cost competitiveness,” the authority said.