Facilitating Adoption of AI in Energy Generation Sector

7 Ms Valerie Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what measures the Government is taking to facilitate greater adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within the energy generation sector; and (b) how it is supporting businesses and households in leveraging AI solutions to improve energy conservation and efficiency.

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Gan Siow Huang) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a strong enabler in the power sector. In 2025, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) launched a regulatory sandbox for Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), which are essentially, digital platforms that control, optimise and aggregate distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and battery energy storage systems. VPP pilots may utilise AI to forecast renewable generation output and optimise generation capacity based on prevailing wholesale market conditions. EMA has also incorporated AI within its internal energy management systems to support solar forecasting.

The Government is committed to helping businesses and households improve energy conservation and efficiency, including through AI-enabled solutions. For example, Enterprise Singapore supports the Singapore Business Federation's Cost and Carbon Reduction Programme. The programme utilises a proprietary AI tool to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) identify cost reduction and decarbonisation opportunities, including through energy conservation and efficiency measures.

We welcome proposals from the public and industry on how the Government can better support the adoption of AI solutions in the power sector and for businesses and households in Singapore.

Mr Speaker: Ms Lee.

Ms Valerie Lee (Pasir Ris-Changi): Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Minister of State. I have two supplementary questions. For successful deployment of AI in power generation, it will require engineers with both energy and data analytics expertise. Could the Minister elaborate on whether there are plans to develop specialised skills in AI for the energy sector workforce?

The second supplementary question is, have we studied use cases across other jurisdictions on AI use within the power sector, for example, for power dispatch, power generation efficiency and for renewables dispatch?

Ms Gan Siow Huang: The Government is committed to growing our own pipeline of talent in the energy sector and helping workers navigate their careers in this exciting space. For example, we have the Skills Framework for Energy and Power developed by SkillsFuture Singapore, Workforce Singapore and EMA with industry and union partners, mapping out the key roles and required competencies, including digital and data skills. For niche skills, the Government will work closely with industry partners and educational institutions to update the curriculum and grow talent to meet the sector's needs.

Can I ask the Member Ms Valerie Lee to repeat her second question?

Mr Speaker: Ms Lee.

Ms Valerie Lee: Yes, so have we studied used cases across other countries on AI use within a power sector, for example, for power dispatch, or for power generation efficiency? And in what countries did we do so?

Ms Gan Siow Huang: I thank the Member for her question. Indeed, we have a lot to learn from other countries. We recognise that AI is a strong enabler in the power sector, and that other countries could be more advanced than us in the adoption of AI. We are studying various AI solutions, which other countries have deployed for both energy generation and the grid network. Some examples include the use of AI for predictive maintenance of energy assets and the application of machine learning to enhance the operational efficiency of both traditional and renewable energy sources.