Country Overview
The Republic of Singapore is an island nation with an area of only 278 square miles. Singapore is bordered by the Strait of Malacca, Singapore Strait, South China Sea, and the Straits of Johor and has a population of approximately 6.02 million people.
In 2022, Singapore’s economy was ranked 33rd in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). Singapore’s economy is based on the export of integrated circuits, refined petroleum, gold, packaged medicaments, and specialized machinery.
Environmental Policies
In 2016, Singapore signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to a 36% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 100% of the people in Singapore had access to electricity. In 2022, Singapore’s state-owned utility, Temasek used refined petroleum (84.0%), natural gas (14.9%), renewable energy (0.6%), and coal (0.5%) to generate electricity in Singapore. Biomass and solar are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Singapore.
Recent renewable energy projects in Singapore include:
- 3,500 MW Solar + Energy Storage Project – Singaporean company Quantum Power Asia and German engineering company ib vogt are continuing work on a solar plus energy storage project at a site in Sumatra, Indonesia approximately 100 miles southeast of Singapore. The solar project will transmit electricity from Sumatra to Singapore via a high-voltage cable. The project is forecast to be commissioned by 2032.
- 3,200 MW Solar Project – Australian solar company Sun Cable is continuing work building the Australia-Asia Power Link, which will supply renewable electricity from Australia to Singapore via a 2,600 mile high-voltage undersea cable. The project is forecast to be commissioned by 2029.
- 60 MW Floating Solar Project – In July 2021, Singaporean power company, Sembcorp commissioned a floating solar project in the Tengeh reservoir.
Conclusions
Singapore imports refined petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas for power generation and transportation. In 2021, Singapore imported U.S.$ 50 Billion of refined petroleum and U.S.$ 22.5 Billion of crude oil.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Singapore’s small geographic area and high population density present a major challenge for the development of utility scale renewable energy projects. Singapore’s solution is to import green energy from major solar projects in Indonesia and Australia by high power transmission lines. Innovation is providing Singapore with a clean green, energy future.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on a diverse range of energy issues.