Renewable energy imports are a more efficient and faster way to get to net zero

SINGAPORE’S plan to import renewable energy may be insufficiently ambitious, a recent study found. Increasing the share of imported energy in the renewable mix will not be easy, however, and may not even be desirable.

The lack of a regional power grid in South-east Asia poses practical challenges, while economic and energy security must also be considered.

Energy think tank Ember Climate suggested that Singapore needs to import 8.1 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2035 in order for its power sector emissions pathway to be aligned with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) net zero scenario.