Singapore expands gas, solar and import projects to strengthen energy security

Singapore relies on imported natural gas for about 95% of its electricity generation, with existing plants capable of producing 12 GW. By 2031, five additional natural-gas power stations will raise total capacity by roughly 26%, bringing the number of plants to more than 20. The plants can also operate on diesel, allowing the use of stored crude oil reserves if gas supplies are disrupted.

An agreement with Saudi Arabia will enable storage of Saudi crude oil in the Jurong Rock Caverns from the second half of 2027, providing a source of diesel for power generation.

Solar power currently contributes 4.2% of Singapore’s energy mix, with 2.3 GW-peak installed. The government aims to reach 3 GW-peak by 2030 and 4 GW-peak by 2035, representing about 5% of projected demand in 2030. To support the increase, energy-storage capacity is slated to triple to just over 1 GWh by 2030, up from 350 MWh today.

Singapore is developing more than 10 GW of electricity import capacity through 14 projects that will draw solar, wind and hydropower from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Australia. Some imports could start as early as 2028. On 26 October, Sembcorp Utilities received a conditional approval to import up to 1.3 GW of renewable electricity from Malaysia.

The country is also evaluating advanced nuclear options, such as small modular reactors, with an International Atomic Energy Agency assessment scheduled for 2027. A master’s programme in nuclear engineering has been launched to build local expertise.

Hydrogen is being explored as a low-carbon fuel. New gas-fired plants will be designed to run on a blend of natural gas and hydrogen, and a $75 million research initiative will focus on extracting hydrogen from ammonia and methanol, although high costs and limited market development keep the technology commercially unproven.