Singapore has approved plans to import 1.3 gigawatts of clean power by 2035, targeting solar energy from Malaysia and offshore wind from Vietnam. The move aims to address the city-state’s limited capacity for domestic renewable energy production.
The Energy Market Authority granted conditional approval to Sembcorp Utilities on October 26. The project still requires regulatory sign-off, power purchase agreements, and financing. Electricity from Vietnam will transit through Malaysia, adding complexity to the plan.
Why Singapore Is Looking Abroad for Clean Energy
Singapore’s land constraints and cloud cover limit its solar potential. Local solar is projected to meet only 3% of the nation’s power needs by 2030. Importing clean energy allows Singapore to diversify its sources and reduce reliance on any single supplier.
The city-state has steadily increased its import targets. Initially set at 4 gigawatts by 2035, the goal rose to 6 gigawatts. By August 2026, the Energy Market Authority had conditionally approved 13 projects totaling 9.25 gigawatts from countries including Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
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A Regional Energy Corridor with Shared Risks
The latest approval involves a cross-border corridor spanning three countries. Malaysian solar will be supported by battery storage, while Vietnamese offshore wind will pass through Malaysia en route to Singapore. This shared infrastructure means disruptions in one country could affect the entire grid.
Experts caution that while imports expand Singapore’s options, they don’t guarantee energy independence. Josephine Liu, Chair of the Asia Pacific Technology Policy Committee at the Association for Computing Machinery, notes that 1.3 gigawatts of renewable imports could enhance energy security by providing more choices but won’t make Singapore self-sufficient.
Liu highlights the need to balance security with affordability and sustainability. Renewable energy isn’t inherently cheaper or safer once backup capacity, infrastructure, and geopolitical factors are considered. With Southeast Asia’s growing data centers and AI sectors, reliable power is critical to Singapore’s tech and financial leadership.
The project’s success hinges on regional cooperation. Liu warns that technical and political risks remain, especially with a common transmission corridor through Malaysia. Disruptions or energy shortages in neighboring countries could jeopardize Singapore’s supply, and commercial agreements can’t eliminate these uncertainties.
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Liu suggests diversifying into technologies like nuclear power and building partnerships with China and the U.S. to increase Singapore’s flexibility. However, not all experts view imported renewables as a new risk.
Fossil Fuels vs. Renewables: A Risk Comparison
Wesley Herche, PhD, Founder at Sovereign Futures, argues that Indonesia’s recent reduction in gas exports to Singapore illustrates a fossil fuel problem, not an energy one. He points out that oil and gas supply chains are vulnerable to attacks or blockades, and sellers facing shortages prioritize their own needs.
Herche says, “No country has ever had to cut off a neighbour because it ran out of sunshine and wind.” He sees imported wind and solar as a way to avoid the risks associated with fossil fuels.
With approval secured, the project’s backers face the challenge of finalizing contracts and building infrastructure. The agreements will reveal how committed Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore are to integrating their grids. Nine years is a long time in energy, and the details of these agreements will determine the project’s success.
