The event kicked off with the Singapore Energy Lecture, where Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong spoke about Singapore’s approaches to navigating the energy transition through the three Rs – Resilience, Reliability and Responsiveness.

Here are the key announcements made at the event.

Energy resilience is a key dimension of Singapore’s decarbonisation strategy through the Four Switches – Solar, Regional Power Grids, Low-carbon Alternatives and Natural Gas.

To this end, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) has launched a grant call to explore carbon capture and storage pathways for the power sector. It aims to decarbonise existing natural gas-fired power generation while scaling up renewable energy adoption.

Additionally, EMA has granted Conditional Approval for renewable energy firm Sun Cable to import 1.75 gigawatts (GW) of low-carbon electricity from Australia to Singapore via new subsea cables. The Conditional Approval recognises that the project can be technically and commercially viable based on its proposal submitted thus far.

A responsive grid is crucial for Singapore’s transition to greener energy. A study commissioned by EMA found that Singapore has untapped ‘demand flexibility’ potential of over 400 megawatts (MW). This means that energy demand can be shifted or reduced during periods of high demand to alleviate the load on the power system.

To leverage this potential, EMA expanded its Demand Response programe to allow battery energy storage systems (BESS) and EV charging systems to participate in the programme. This programme not only improves grid flexibility but also offers savings to participating electricity buyers.

EMA has also launched an initiative inviting companies to pilot the use of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). This is where various distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar installations and battery energy storage systems operate as a single, coordinated unit to supply energy and ancillary services to the power grid.

As Singapore adopts cleaner energy sources, the power grid must evolve and integrate these diverse sources to ensure a reliable power supply.

To set a clear path for advancing Singapore’s grid capabilities, EMA and SP Group will launch a Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap. This roadmap will outline strategies to harness distributed energy resources for greater grid stability, improved grid management, and to address emerging system needs.

Collaboration is vital for advancing the energy transition in ASEAN. The importance of international collaboration is the inauguration of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) first office outside of its Paris headquarters in Singapore.

The IEA Regional Cooperation Centre will focus on scaling up the deployment of renewables and other clean energy technologies. It will also promote cross-border power trade and improve access to financing for clean energy investments in the region.

Singapore is also working with countries like the United States to study legal and financial frameworks for regional energy connectivity in Southeast Asia.

As Singapore progresses towards its net-zero goal by 2050, its vision for a cleaner and more reliable energy landscape will help to pave the way for a more sustainable future in Southeast Asia and beyond.