Growing Renewable Energy Adoption to Meet Net-zero Carbon Emissions Pledge
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns projected renewable energy demand and the role of natural gas in achieving net-zero emissions, as raised by Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Liang Eng Hwa. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong outlined plans to achieve 2 gigawatt-peak of solar capacity by 2030 and import 4 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity by 2035. He shared that 3 gigawatts of imports from Cambodia and Indonesia have conditional approval and highlighted $184 million in research funding for hydrogen and carbon capture. Furthermore, studies on deep geothermal energy and carbon sequestration are being conducted to explore alternative low-carbon sources beyond solar and electricity imports. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong noted that natural gas will remain a key transition fuel to maintain energy security while pursuing sustainability goals.
Transcript
26 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the expected demand on renewable energy in Singapore by 2040; and (b) what are the plans to ensure that Singapore has sufficient capacity to meet the demand.
27 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether Singapore's continued heavy dependence on natural gas will hinder the commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; and (b) whether the development and growth of renewable energy will soon be enough to tilt the balance.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Both questions relate to Singapore’s energy transition for our power sector.
Singapore is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. We are, therefore, making significant moves to increase the supply of low-carbon energy domestically.
First, we are maximising solar deployment and are on track to attain our target of at least two Gigawatt-peak (GWp) of installed solar capacity by 2030. We are also funding research into new technologies that can help Singapore increase our solar energy yields. These include high-efficiency solar photovoltaic cells, building-attached photovoltaics and open-sea floating photovoltaics.
Second, we are targeting to import up to four Gigawatt (GW) of low-carbon electricity by 2035, which is around 30% of Singapore’s projected electricity demand. Thus far, we have awarded Conditional Approvals for up to three GW of low-carbon electricity to be imported from Cambodia and Indonesia.
Third, we are accelerating our exploration of low carbon alternatives. Singapore published our National Hydrogen Strategy last year. We are currently assessing the submissions from our Expression of Interest for low-carbon ammonia power generation and bunkering and will make an announcement in the coming months. We have also recently announced plans to undertake a nationwide study to assess Singapore’s potential for deep geothermal and carbon sequestration.
Lastly, aside from research into solar technologies, we have committed $184 million into research and development, to unlock technological bottlenecks for hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage and other emerging low-carbon technologies.
Even as we decarbonise the power sector, natural gas will continue to play a significant role as a transition fuel for Singapore and enable us to balance the energy trilemma of security, sustainability and cost competitiveness.