Singapore EMA conditionally accepts 1.75 GW electricity from Australia

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore has conditionally approved Sun Cable’s proposal to import 1.75 GW of low-carbon electricity from Australia.

This electricity will be generated from solar power in Australia’s Northern Territory and transmitted to Singapore through a 4,300 km subsea cable. The project aims for commercial operations post-2035.

To secure a conditional licence, Sun Cable must update its proposal to meet EMA’s conditions, including technical requirements, ensuring a commercially viable price for customers, and obtaining necessary approvals from jurisdictions along the cable route. EMA’s initiative to import low-carbon electricity is a core element of Singapore’s strategy to reduce power sector emissions, which currently make up 40% of its carbon footprint. The authority aims to import 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035.

EMA has previously granted conditional licences for 2 GW of electricity imports from Indonesia and 3.6 GW from sources such as Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. These imports, leveraging solar, hydropower, and wind energy, are set to contribute to the ASEAN Power Grid project. As Singapore’s energy demands rise, EMA continues to engage entities with viable proposals that align with the country’s net-zero goal by 2050.

EMA is exploring various decarbonisation pathways, including hydrogen, solar, deep geothermal energy, nuclear energy, and carbon capture and storage technologies, as part of Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon future.

In August 2024, the Australian government granted environmental approval for Sun Cable’s Australia-Asia Power Link project. This 2,000 km project extends from the Northern Territory to Australia’s maritime boundary with Indonesia, receiving approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.