As talks with Indonesia stall, Singapore seeks other green energy sources: ‘the clock is ticking’

Despite signing agreements and a US$37 billion ‘Green Corridor’ in Indonesia, a history of turbulence clouds Singapore-Jakarta energy relations

Indonesia wants to add value to its industries, experts say, as Singapore risks over-reliance on foreign suppliers for yet another critical resource

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An employee inspects Keppel rooftop solar panels in Singapore. Singapore aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but its small size and location present challenges for domestic production of renewable energy. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:12pm, 31 Jul 2023

Singapore is seeking alternative sources of green-energy imports to meet its ambitious climate goals, as talks with Indonesia continue to stall.

Officials from Singapore have already started visiting other countries, mostly around Southeast Asia, to secure supplies of renewable energy, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Speaking to Indonesian news outlets in Singapore earlier this month, Teo said the country was looking for sources of green electricity “not just from Indonesia”. He said a number of Australian companies were also interested in supplying green electricity to the city state.

Singapore aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but its small size and location present challenges for domestic production of renewable energy.

This lack of space means wind, geothermal and hydroelectric generation are not feasible, and neither are big solar farms. Also, rooftop solar panels only generate limited amounts of energy.

Singapore remains heavily reliant on natural gas that accounts for 95 per cent of its electricity. But this leaves the city state vulnerable to price shocks, such as when gas prices spiked in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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