Singapore’s energy regulator, the Energy Market Authority (EMA), has granted conditional approvals to two companies to import solar power from Malaysia as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize its power sector.
The approvals cover a combined 900MW of electricity imports from Johor. The projects will involve solar power generation supported by battery energy storage systems, which will help store electricity generated from renewable sources and improve supply flexibility, according to the EMA.
The two approved companies are Sembcorp Utilities, which has proposed a 300MW import capacity, and Southern Solar Alliance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian renewable energy developer Ditrolic Energy Holdings, which has proposed a 600MW capacity.
Both companies are aiming to start commercial operations around 2029 but have to obtain regulatory approvals across jurisdictions, finalize power purchase agreements, arrange financing, and complete key development steps required to achieve financial close.
As part of its project, Sembcorp Utilities plans to develop a 2.2 gigawatt-peak floating solar installation at Linggiu Reservoir, supported by battery energy storage capacity of up to 4.3 gigawatt-hours, according to a separate statement from Singapore-listed Sembcorp Industries.
The EMA said the conditional approvals reflect the growing momentum in energy cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia.
This follows a previous approval allowing the import of up to 1.0 gigawatt (GW) of low-carbon electricity from Sarawak to Singapore.
The latest approvals also align with a Joint Development Agreement signed by Singapore Energy Interconnections (SGEI), SP Group, and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) to conduct detailed feasibility studies for a second electricity interconnection between Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, with a potential capacity of up to 2 GW.
The EMA has issued conditional approvals and licenses for 13 electricity import projects involving Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. These approvals form part of Singapore’s broader strategy to decarbonize its power sector through low‑carbon electricity imports. The power sector currently contributes about 40% of the country’s carbon emissions. Singapore aims to import around 6 GW of low‑carbon electricity by 2035, equivalent to roughly one‑third of its total energy demand.
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