Urban solar projects are becoming more common in Singapore. Here's how one company is powering the way forward.

• Singapore's location 85 miles north of the equator makes it an ideal hub for the growing solar industry.
• EDP Renewables, a leading global renewables player, has its APAC regional headquarters based in Singapore.
• Public and private projects aimed at increasing solar production are underway. 
• This article is part of our "Business for Good" series spotlighting business leaders and companies that are driving meaningful changes from Singapore.

By Kris LeBoutillier, a journalist and content creator who has worked across Asia for 25 years. Currently based in Singapore, he's serving as our trusted resource for the innovative projects unfolding in one of the world's most advanced and progressive business hubs.

I recently attended a meeting at Guoco Tower, which, at 930 feet, is Singapore's tallest skyscraper. As I waited in the reception area looking down at the other skyscrapers through the windows, I noticed black solar panels shimmering on the roofs. They were everywhere. 

At street level, most people never see the solar revolution happening right above them — one that generates zero emissions and boosts Singapore's energy security. However, from a downtown skyscraper, a towering apartment building, or a favorite rooftop bar, it's clear that Singapore has fully embraced the power of the sun.

To learn more about Singapore's solar ambitions, I contacted Pedro Vasconcelos, the APAC CEO of EDP Renewables (EDPR), a leading global renewables player, with its APAC regional headquarters based in Singapore. He shared insights on Singapore's innovative use of large-scale solar and battery technology to power its future energy needs — and the island's goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. 

Singapore's solar ambitions 

Singapore is in an obvious position to integrate solar into the national power grid. At 85 miles north of the equator, the city-state gets an estimated 5.3 hours of sunshine on an average day, depending on the time of year. 

In addition to a healthy supply of sunlight, Vasconcelos said Singapore is an ideal regional hub for EDPR to lead its APAC ambitions, given the availability of talent, innovation centers, and capital — all key enablers for the energy transition across the region. Moreover, the APAC region is set to account for more than 50% of global additions of renewable power capacity by the end of the decade.   

"Singapore's public and private sector efforts and commitment are at the forefront of the energy transition, not only for the domestic market but regionally, as well," he added. 

But given that Singapore has little "elbow room," it has always had to be ultra-efficient with its limited land mass and high population density. This means the government must explore alternative ways to maximize underutilized spaces or unique placements of solar deployment — like the rooftops of apartment blocks, interim vacant land, and surrounding bodies of water. 

Solar projects from a world innovator

EDPR has a diverse portfolio of sustainability partners from pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, tech firms, and data centers. These partners have various reasons to take on renewable energy projects, according to Vasconcelos. They include greenifying their consumption, having a positive impact on the climate and surrounding communities, attaining specific ESG goals, and reducing carbon tax.

In Singapore, its largest partnerships include those with the Housing & Development Board (HDB), JTC Corporation (JTC), Singtel, Jurong Port, Singapore Technologies, and Port of Singapore Authority (PSA).

Through a combination of its own programs and those from the Singapore government, EDPR is moving toward its power targets. 

The SolarNova Program, for example, is a government-led program created to accelerate the deployment of solar systems in Singapore. To date, EDPR has already installed solar panels on about 2,400 buildings in Singapore under the SolarNova program, Vasconcelos said. 

HDB aims to deploy solar panels on as many HDB blocks as possible, and considering Singapore has an inventory of more than 10,000 HDB blocks, this is quite a significant stride. 

JTC, Singapore's primary developer and manager of industrial estates, has implemented the SolarLand programme, a master plan in support of Singapore's clean energy vision that uses interim vacant land by installing ground-mounted solar panels. EDPR also has projects across Singapore under the SolarLand initiative, with a total contracted capacity of about 62 megawatt-peak (MWp), of which approximately 25MWp is already commissioned. 

In March 2021, EDP Renewables APAC completed the installation of one of the world's largest sea-based floating solar farms in the Straits of Johor, the body of water separating Singapore from Malaysia. The structure is equipped with over 13,300 panels and more than 30,000 floats, and the entire system is expected to generate enough electricity to power up to 1,100 four-room public housing apartments.

"Singapore's sustainable development agenda, Singapore Green Plan 2030, fully aligns with our strategy," Vasconcelos said. "Singapore is well underway to deliver those targets and EDPR has a leading positioning in the market." Singapore has 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar energy in operation, of which EDPR has more than 30% market share of fully-owned installed solar capacity. As a point of reference, 1 GW is enough to power about 876,000 households.  

The future of solar in APAC

In early 2023, EDPR presented a strategic plan that goes through 2026, reinforcing its commitment to lead the energy transition across the APAC region through unprecedented renewables growth.

"EDPR aims to achieve at least tenfold capacity in APAC within this critical decade to at least 5 GW by 2030," Vasconcelos said. "This is an ambitious target, for which the region's potential needs to be unleashed, but so is the challenge of climate change."

Most APAC countries have committed to go net zero by 2050 or 2060. Since EDPR arrived in APAC, it has already more than doubled its operational solar capacity beyond 1GWp. 

Vasconcelos is clear about his commitment to renewable energy, specifically the importance of the solar projects and innovations that EDPR is developing across the region.  

"We need to step up, go above and beyond while thinking creatively about new technologies and forging new partnerships. Otherwise, we will continue to see record-setting temperatures worldwide."

—Pedro Vasconcelos, APAC CEO, EDP Renewables 

And EDPR's employees are fully invested in the cause as well.

"Our people are deeply committed to the purpose-driven work culture. We take pride in putting our energy and heart to drive a better tomorrow," Vasconcelos said. 

"We share a common DNA across EDP Group that seamlessly blends our distinctive energy to deliver sustainable solutions, a dedicated heart towards creating a positive impact, and a solid drive to produce meaningful change."

Learn more about why so many are partnering with Singapore to drive meaningful change.

This post was created by Insider Studios with the Singapore Economic Development Board.