PacificLight’s 100 MW solar import project

Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) has granted in-principle approval to PacificLight Power, a Singapore-based power generation and electricity retail company, working with a consortium comprising of Indonesia’s Medco Power, and Salim Group’s Gallant Venture, on a 100-megawatt (MW) pilot solar import project from Indonesia to Singapore.

The consortium signed a joint development agreement during the Singapore International Energy Week on 25 October, witnessed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia and the Second Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore.

The project will supply renewable electricity exclusively to Singapore through solar panels at Bulan Island, 2.5 kilometres southwest of Batam Island, Indonesia. The project will have an installed generation capacity of 670 MW-peak in the initial phase, which will provide 100 MW equivalent of nonintermittent electricity. The renewable electricity generated will be supplied via a dedicated plant-to-grid 230 kilovolt HVAC subsea connection to Singapore.

“PLP is committed to providing our customers with long term efficient energy solutions that are costcompetitive and sustainable,” said PacificLight CEO Yu Tat Ming.

Medco Power CEO Eka Satria added the company are delighted to be working with PacificLight and the Salim Group in developing the Bulan Project. “In addition to the benefits that the project brings to Singapore in achieving its renewable energy targets, this project also provides many benefits to Indonesia through the investment commitment, job and industry creation, and technology transfer, especially in the Province of Kepulauan Riau,” Satria noted.

The electricity generation will be sufficient to power over 144,000 four-room HDB flats per annum and offset over 357,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The project will play a pivotal role in meeting the Singapore government’s objectives to increase power generation from renewable sources and reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.

PacificLight gets in-principle approval on a 100-MW pilot solar import project from Indonesia to Singapore

Vietnamese consortium, led by Semco Maritime and PTSC Mechanical & Construction Co. Ltd., won the preferred supplier agreement for the construction of two offshore substations for the Hai Long wind projects in Taiwan.

Hai Long 2 and Hai Long 3 substations, which are located off the Taiwanese coast, will deliver more than 1GW of green wind energy once commissioned in 2025 to 2026, according to a statement by Hai Long Offshore Wind Project and Semco Maritime.

The world’s largest hydrofloating solar farm, with a capacity of 2.7 GW, has started operations in Thailand, 31 October. The $34m solar farm is as big as 70 soccer fields combined. It is located at Sirindhorn reservoir, 660 km east of Bangkok.

In the morning, its 145,000 solar panels will generate power from the sun, and whilst three turbines will produce energy from flowing water at night. The hydro-floating solar farm is the first of Thailand’s 16 projects in its key reservoirs. Sembcorp Industries will jointly develop a solar and energy storage facility in Indonesia that can generate approximately 1 GW-peak of renewable power.

The Singaporean company signed an exclusive joint development agreement to develop the facility in Indonesia’s BBK region.

The renewable power generated in the BBK facility was proposed to be transmitted to Singapore via subsea cables.

The proposed bill empowers the Energy Market Authority

Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng highlighted the three key amendments proposed under the energy bill which was read for a second time at the Parliament on 2 November.

The proposed bill empowers the Energy Market Authority (EMA) in three ways; the first is by amending Section 3 of the Electricity Act and the Second Schedule of the EMA Act.

By doing so, Leng said EMA will be able to “acquire, build, own and/or operate critical infrastructures” like generating units, energy storage solutions, and transmission infrastructure.

To be specific, Leng said EMA could buy Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT) to “augment any shortfall in generation capacity, such as when there are unplanned outages among other generation units.

“These quick response units are necessary for the security and reliability of our electricity system.” Leng said.

The bill also allows EMA or a subsidiary to directly operate, if needed, the said critical infrastructure.

Leng, meanwhile, allayed fears that allowing EMA to own and operate generating units would “depress wholesale electricity prices.”

“Our preference is for the private sector to build, to own, and to operate the electricity infrastructure. I would like to assure this House that, before exercising this power, EMA would have explored alternative solutions to provide the critical infrastructure needed,” Leng said.

Safeguards will also be put in place to ensure that there would be no unfair competition against the private generation companies, Leng added.

The second key amendment proposed under the energy bill is to penalise those who will damage infrastructure housing of electricity cables, gas transmission pipelines, or submarine gas pipelines in the territorial waters of Singapore.

Currently, sections 80 and 85 of the Electricity Act and sections 32, 32A, and 32B of the Gas Act only impose penalties on those who damage the actual cables and pipelines.

“EMA will be expanding the scope of the offences in these sections to cover such protective infrastructure as well. The offences carry the same penalties as those for damaging the actual cables and pipelines,” Leng said.

The last proposed change under the energy bill expands EMA’s regulatory functions under the Electricity Act.

Under the bill, the regulatory body can implement “policies and strategies connected with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions“ on parties licensed under the Electricity Act.