Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) reported on March 22 that the country could reduce carbon emissions from the power sector to achieve net-zero by 2050, as reported by Strait Times on the same day. The report outlined measures to realize this target, including increasing clean energy imports through regional power grids, developing infrastructure capable of using clean-burning hydrogen as a fuel, and ramping up solar panel deployment. The EMA claimed that these measures would neither undermine Singapore’s energy security nor energy affordability. Last month, Singapore announced that it aims for national net-zero emission by or around 2050, moving the deadline of its commitment earlier than its previous target, which was to achieve net-zero in the second half of the century as soon as viable.

The power sector accounts for around 40% of Singapore’s national carbon emissions. The remaining 45% and 14% of emissions come from the industrial sector and the transport sector, respectively. With the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and digitalization, the power industry is expected to be the major obstacle to reducing emissions. Singapore now relies on natural gas as its primary energy, and it plans to replace that fossil fuel with domestic or imported green hydrogen. In the meantime, Singapore is developing renewable energy and considering nuclear power as a supplement. The EMA concluded in the report that nuclear has the potential to contribute 10% of Singapore’s power demand in 2050.

Sources:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/importing-more-clean-energy-among-ways-to-help-singapores-power-sector-reach-net-zero-emissions-by-2050-report

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/carbon-tax-net-zero-target-emissions-singapore-green-plan-2506496

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-exploring-tapping-nuclear-energy-by-2050

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-02/eu-to-unveil-controversial-green-label-plan-for-gas-and-nuclear