Singapore to import 1GW RE electricity from Cambodia

A conditional approval was granted to the import project proposal of Keppel Energy.

Singapore will be importing 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable electricity from Cambodia after the Energy Market Authority (EMA) granted the first conditional approval for electricity import to the project proposal of Keppel Energy.

In a statement, the EMA said the conditional approval was given after the project was deemed technically and commercially viable. This will facilitate the obtaining of necessary regulatory approval and licenses for the project.

Under the proposal, the electricity generated from solar energy, hydropower, and potentially wind power will be transmitted to Singapore from Cambodia through over 1,000 kilometres of new subsea cables. Renewable energy is supported by a battery energy storage system or pumped storage hydropower.

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The project, which supports the Lion City’s goal to import 4GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, is anchored on the memorandum of understanding it signed with Cambodia in October 2022 to commit to clean energy transition and regional decarbonisation.

EMA said it may issue conditional licenses to those who participated in their call for a project proposal for electricity imports if their proposal meets the requirements under the conditional approval.

“Participants will have to further develop their proposals and meet EMA’s conditions, including obtaining relevant regulatory approvals and making a Final Investment Decision, before being issued a full Importer Licence,”

Keppel Energy also aims to scale and hybridise imported electricity with renewable sources in Laos.