Singapore Has Raised Its 2030 Solar Power Installation Target To 3 GW

Singapore has raised its 2030 solar power installation target from 2 GW to 3 GW.

This increase comes after the country surpassed the 2 GW threshold for solar power installations in 2025. According to an announcement by the Energy Market Authority (EMA), the government will intensify efforts to deploy solar power, continuing to expand installations on rooftops, land, and water surfaces, while also exploring new solutions such as solar panels on open-air parking lot canopies.

Currently, over 80% of Singapore’s solar installed capacity comes from rooftop PV, with installations supported by several government-led incentive programs. These include the SolarNova initiative, which aims to deploy solar on public buildings (including public housing), as well as the SolarRoof and SolarLand programs targeting industrial rooftops and vacant land. Additionally, as the cost of solar panels has declined, the payback period for residential solar has been reduced to five years. Furthermore, owners of solar systems in Singapore can sell the electricity they generate through Renewable Energy Certificates.

The CEO of EMA noted that Singapore is already one of the cities with the highest solar density in the world. “We are committed to maximizing opportunities for solar deployment while pursuing other low-carbon energy pathways. The new solar deployment targets reflect Singapore’s commitment to building a cleaner, more resilient energy system,” he said. “This important initiative requires close collaboration among the government, industry, and the community.”

Furthermore, according to the latest analysis report released by the UK-based consulting firm Global Data, Singapore is expected to reach 3.2 GW of solar installed capacity by the end of 2030 and surpass the 5 GW threshold by 2034.

Currently, Singapore’s power system relies heavily on natural gas, which accounts for approximately 95% of electricity generation. EMA’s analysis indicates that while solar power is a major renewable energy source with development potential, by 2050 it will be able to meet at most about 10% of Singapore’s projected energy demand.

Recently, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Kan Keng Yoong stated that Singapore remains at a disadvantage in terms of alternative energy sources, and the government will explore other potential energy pathways to decarbonize the power system, including introducing next-generation gas-fired power plants with lower carbon emissions than current plants, as well as importing low-carbon electricity from neighboring countries. “The pace of our decarbonization will ultimately depend on technological progress and the extent to which other countries are willing to cooperate with us,” he said.

It is worth noting that in June 2025, Singapore and Indonesia announced plans to develop a solar panel industry in the Riau Islands as part of a cross-border clean energy trade initiative. Subsequently, Singapore’s renewable energy company Equator Renewables Asia (ERA) signed a cooperation agreement with Huineng International, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), to develop a 900 MWp solar photovoltaic and 1.2 GWh battery storage project in the Riau Islands of Indonesia, with the aim of supplying green electricity to Singapore.