EDP Renewables (EDPR) announced its renewed partnership with Microsoft on Singapore’s largest solar energy project, SolarNova. Under the agreement, Microsoft will purchase 100% of the renewable energy generated by EDPR’s SolarNova 8 project, which has a capacity of up to 200MW-peak (MWp).
Awarded in February, the SolarNova 8 project will see EDPR install solar panels on more than 1,000 public housing buildings and over 100 government-owned properties. The energy produced will power common services during the day, making it the largest solar initiative under Singapore’s SolarNova programme.
The partnership, which began in 2018, marks Microsoft’s first renewable energy deal in Asia.
Launched in 2014, the SolarNova programme aims to develop Singapore’s solar capabilities and help achieve the country’s national targets of 1.5GWp by 2025 and 2GWp by 2030. The programme is expected to generate 420 gigawatt-hours of solar energy annually, meeting 5% of Singapore’s energy demand and reducing carbon emissions by over 96,000 tonnes per year.
As Singapore’s solar capacity continues to grow—reaching 1.17GWp by 2023—the nation is also addressing solar intermittency with energy storage systems and improved solar forecasting. Alongside domestic solar expansion, Singapore is diversifying its energy mix by importing low-carbon electricity from regional countries like Indonesia.