Singapore Calls Neighbours For Low-Carbon Power, Gets 20 Proposals

Singapore recently called its neighbours to bring in around 30% of its electricity demand by 2035, receiving 20 proposals from overseas.

Currently generating 95% of its electricity from natural gas, Singapore wants to decarbonize its power mix but finds itself handicapped by tiny land area. Left with few options but to look offshore, Singapore approached overseas for help to bring in around 30% of its electricity by 2035.

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In what could be a test case for the ability of small countries to access green power, Singapore received 20 proposals to supply it with low-carbon electricity from overseas. The Energy Market Authority got bids for supply from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos in response to a tender that sought 1.2 gigawatts of lower-carbon
electricity imports starting in 2027, according to a report, “The types of power include solar, wind, geothermal and hydro,”. What is clearly working for Singapore is its high credit rating as well as the trading it already enables for most countries in the vicinity.

The initial response was not good last year when neighboring Malaysia banned exports of renewable electricity to prioritize its own efforts to decarbonize. Talks are also underway on building an undersea cable to bring in solar power from the north of Australia, and the city-state is keeping its options open on nuclear energy.

The EMA described the response to its tender as “strong.” The deadline for final submissions is in mid-June and the results will likely be announced in the fourth quarter. It’s unclear what will happen to the proposals from Malaysia, given the country’s ban.

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One thing’s for sure. As and when the issue of high cost HVDC cables used to ferry power over longer distances is settled, the possibilities of renewable power travelling greater distances to meet needs will only go up, bringing the vision of the One World One Sun One Grid closer to reality than many imagined when it was first articulated  by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020.