Singapore
Singapore is building a regional energy system beyond its borders.
A resource-constrained city-state turning regional connectivity, solar, hydrogen and clean-energy imports into an energy-security strategy.
Big Picture
Singapore's energy transition is less about replacing a large domestic coal or oil fleet and more about building a diversified, interconnected energy system.
Natural gas remains the backbone of electricity generation, accounting for 94% of the fuel mix in 2024. Domestic solar is expanding rapidly, but Singapore's land constraints limit how much renewable generation can be produced locally.
The bigger strategic move is therefore regional: Singapore plans to import around 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, equivalent to roughly one-third of its projected energy needs. This connects Singapore's energy transition directly to the development of the wider ASEAN Power Grid.
Policy & Targets
Singapore's energy and climate strategy is built around several key pathways:
Net zero emissions by 2050
Reduce emissions to around 60 MtCO₂e by 2030
Reduce emissions to 45–50 MtCO₂e by 2035
Deploy 3 GWp of solar by 2030
Import around 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035
Develop hydrogen as a potential major low-carbon energy source
Explore carbon capture and storage for hard-to-abate emissions
Singapore's 2035 NDC was submitted in February 2025 and targets emissions of 45–50 MtCO₂e in 2035.
Power Market
Singapore's electricity market remains overwhelmingly gas-based.
In 2024, Singapore generated approximately 60 TWh of electricity, while natural gas accounted for 94% of the electricity-generation fuel mix. Solar contributed around 2.1%, with waste, biomass, imports and other sources making up the remainder.
The country's electricity system is highly reliable, but demand is rising as Singapore expands data centres, advanced manufacturing, electrification and other energy-intensive industries.
This creates a central policy challenge:
How can Singapore decarbonise electricity without compromising reliability, affordability or energy security?
Grid & Storage
Singapore's grid is already one of the world's most reliable, but the energy transition is increasing the importance of flexibility and regional connectivity.
Singapore has already deployed a 285 MWh utility-scale battery energy storage system, which was Southeast Asia's largest when commissioned. The system can respond rapidly to changes in electricity supply and demand and helps manage solar intermittency.
The next major development is regional interconnection.
Singapore now aims to import around 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, with projects involving countries including Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Industry & New Energy
Singapore is positioning itself as more than an electricity consumer — it wants to become a regional hub for clean-energy investment, financing, trading and technology.
Key areas include:
Hydrogen
Singapore's National Hydrogen Strategy identifies hydrogen as a potential major source of low-carbon energy. It could potentially supply up to 50% of Singapore's projected electricity demand by 2050, subject to technological and commercial development.
Carbon Capture & Storage
Singapore is exploring CCS as an option for sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate.
Data Centres
Rapid growth in AI and data-centre infrastructure is increasing electricity demand and making energy efficiency, low-carbon power and grid capacity increasingly important.
Green Finance
Singapore is also leveraging its financial centre to support regional clean-energy investment.
What We're Watching
1. ASEAN Power Grid
Can Singapore turn electricity imports into a functioning regional clean-power market?
2. Solar beyond rooftops
Singapore has already exceeded its previous solar target and is now targeting 3 GWp by 2030.
3. Hydrogen
Can imported low-carbon hydrogen become commercially viable enough to make a meaningful contribution to Singapore's power and industrial sectors?
4. Data-centre demand
AI and data-centre growth could significantly increase electricity demand, putting additional pressure on Singapore's decarbonisation strategy.
5. Regional energy investment
Singapore could increasingly function as a financing, trading and technology hub for Southeast Asia's energy transition, rather than simply being a domestic energy market.
Energy Insider View
Singapore's biggest renewable asset may not be within Singapore itself — it is its connectivity to the region.
With limited land and renewable resources, Singapore cannot pursue the same energy-transition model as Australia or Indonesia. Its strategy is fundamentally different: build domestic solar, secure reliable gas, connect to regional clean power, develop hydrogen and storage, and use Singapore's financial and trading infrastructure to participate in the wider ASEAN transition.
Our view: Singapore is becoming the control room, financing centre and connectivity hub for Southeast Asia's emerging clean-energy economy.