Singapore grants in-principle approval to import 100 MW solar power from Indonesia

THE Energy Market Authority (EMA) has granted in-principle approval on a pilot project to import 100 megawatt (MW) of solar power from Indonesia to Singapore.

The project is part of a collaboration among a consortium of companies including Singapore-based power generation and electricity retail company PacificLight Power (PLP), Indonesian power producer Medco Power Indonesia and Gallant Venture.

The consortium signed a joint development agreement on Monday (Oct 25) during the Singapore International Energy Week.

PLP, Medco Power Indonesia and Gallant Venture are in advanced stages of developing a solar photovoltaics project that will supply renewable energy to Singapore by installing solar panels at Bulan Island, 2.5 km south-west of Batam Island, Indonesia, the companies said in a joint statement on Monday (Oct 25).

They expect the project will have an installed generation capacity of 670 megawatts-peak (MWp) in the initial phase and provide 100 MW equivalent of non-intermittent electricity - sufficient to power over 144,000 4-room HDB flats per annum and offset over 357,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The renewable electricity generated will be supplied via a dedicated plant-to-grid 230 kilovolt (kV) high voltage alternating current (HVAC) subsea connection to Singapore. (see amendment note)

PLP's chief executive officer Yu Tat Ming said: "A number of large energy users have expressed keen interest to reduce their carbon footprint and Project Bulan will go a long way towards meeting their increasing desire for renewable energy."

The consortium joins a number of companies planning to import renewable energy into Singapore, as the Republic looks to diversify its energy supply and cut emissions.

At the beginning of October, Tuas Power said it tied up with Indonesia Power and EDF Renewables to develop a framework for the import of electricity from Indonesia into Singapore.

The memorandum of understanding signed on Sep 29 includes a proposed 1,000 MWp solar photovoltaic plant, feasibility studies in Indonesia and its grid connection to Singapore, as well as the development of technical solutions to address issues of supply intermittency and transmission stability.

Meanwhile in September, Keppel Electric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Infrastructure Holdings, signed an exclusive framework agreement with Laos state-owned electricity company Electricite Du Laos (EDL), to jointly explore opportunities in importing renewable energy into Singapore.

Under the agreement, EDL will export and Keppel will import up to 100 MW of renewable hydropower from Laos to Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia, using existing interconnectors under an import trial.

Earlier in March, Sunseap also said it would form a joint venture (JV) with Malaysia's largest utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to trial the import of electricity from Malaysia.

Under the JV, Singapore will import 100 MW of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. If successful, the JV will invest in multiple solar farms across Malaysia and other forms of clean energy such as hydroelectricity, from TNB's existing plants.

In the same month, the EMA said it was seeking proposals to appoint an importer for a 2-year trial to import electricity from Malaysia.

On Monday (Oct 25), YTL PowerSeraya, a wholly-owned subsidiary of YTL Power International, announced that it was appointed the electricity importer under the request for proposal, to import 100 MW of electricity from Malaysia via existing interconnectors.

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Amendment note: An earlier version misstated that HVAC stood for "heating, ventilating and air conditioning". It is instead "high voltage alternating current".

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