EMA grants Conditional Approval for 1.75 GW of electricity imports from Australia
Energy Market Authority (EMA) has granted Conditional Approval to Sun Cable (Singapore) Assets Pte Ltd to import 1.75 gigawatt (GW) of low-carbon electricity from Australia into Singapore, in line with the Singapore’s long-term strategy to decarbonise its energy supply. The imported electricity is expected to harness solar power from Australia’s Northern Territory and transmitted to Singapore via new subsea cables over a distance of approximately 4,200km.
2. The Conditional Approval awarded to Sun Cable recognises that the project can be technically and commercially viable based on the proposal and information submitted thus far. The Conditional Approval will provide Sun Cable with the support to continue to develop the project to meet its proposed commercial operation date, which is expected to be after 2035.
3. Sun Cable will need to update its proposal to demonstrate fulfilment of EMA’s required conditions precedent before the project can be considered for an award of Conditional Licence. Such conditions precedent include compliance with EMA’s technical requirements and achieving a commercially viable price acceptable to customers. Sun Cable will also need to secure all requisite approvals of relevant jurisdictions, including countries which the cables will pass through.
4. Low carbon electricity imports are part of Singapore’s overall strategy to decarbonise the power sector, which currently accounts for 40% of our carbon emissions. EMA is seeking to import around 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035.
5. To date, EMA has granted 2GW of Conditional Licences for electricity imports from Indonesia, as well as 3.6GW of Conditional Approvals for electricity imports comprising 1.4GW from Indonesia, 1GW from Cambodia and 1.2GW from Vietnam. If realised, these projects will collectively tap on a diverse mix of solar energy, hydropower and wind power. They will also contribute to the realisation of the ASEAN Power Grid.
6. To keep pace with our energy demand, EMA will continue to engage all companies with credible and commercially viable proposals that can contribute to Singapore’s 2050 net zero ambitions. To ensure adequate supply to meet our future energy needs given growing demand, EMA will continue to grant Conditional Approval to companies with credible and commercially viable proposals. EMA will also continue to explore all decarbonisation pathways for the power sector, including hydrogen, solar, deep geothermal energy, nuclear energy, as well as carbon capture and storage technologies, as part of the energy transition towards a low-carbon future.
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About the Energy Market Authority
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is a statutory board under the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry. Through our work, we seek to build a clean energy future that is resilient, sustainable, and competitive. We aim to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, promote effective competition in the energy market and develop a dynamic energy sector in Singapore. Visit www.ema.gov.sg for more information.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Sikha Bagaria
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Energy Market Authority
Tel: +65 9777 4790
Email: sikha_bagaria@ema.gov.sg
Mr Tan Yo-Hinn
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Energy Market Authority
Tel: +65 9695 6018
Email: tan_yo-hinn@ema.gov.sg