Singapore Aiming For 2 GW Solar PV Capacity By 2030

• On track to achieve its 2020 PV target of 350 MW, Singapore says it is now planning to achieve 2 GW of capacity by 2030
• BIPV, floating solar, rooftop solar potential of the country will be exploited as the government hopes to get companies, researchers and general public to install more solar
• Energy storage capacity of 200 MW will be chased beyond 2025 to help support solar power generation

One of the emerging PV markets in Asia, Singapore is aiming to scale up its target for the technology to have a total of 2 GW of installed capacity by 2030, according to the country's Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing. Calling it the country's most promising renewable energy source, Sing said Singapore is on track to achieve its target of 350 MW of solar by 2020.

For its 2 GW solar target, it plans for this capacity to come from the deployment of solar by companies, researchers and general public which would be enough to power around 350,000 households in Singapore.

It is also open to the idea of building integrated PV (BIPV) for vertical installations on buildings and rooftop solar as well as utilizing any available space for solar installation as water reservoirs for floating solar, and even offshore spaces.

Channel News Asia reported the country will also look at scaling up its rooftop solar program for government buildings. The SolarNova program currently targets installation of 220 MW capacity to generate an estimated 420 GWh annually. Under SolarNova, four tenders have so far been concluded (see Sunseap Bags 70 MW Rooftop Solar Contract In Singapore).

Floating solar power capacity using its water reservoirs is also being planned to be scaled up to double of the current plan of around 160 MW, reported Reuters. Singapore is planning to have a 50 MW floating PV system on Tengeh reservoir, which will be the country's first single large-scale floating solar system (see RFP For 50 MW Floating Solar Plant In Singapore).

Energy storage also finds a place in the government's plans for the country's energy self-reliance with 200 MW of energy storage systems (ESS) to be deployed beyond 2025 to support solar power generation. For this, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) will work closely with industry and agencies to build testbeds and standards.

Overall, the government says in the face of climate change it will harness Four Switches to guide and transform its energy supply – these are natural gas, solar, regional power grids and emerging low-carbon alternatives.

According to Reuters, the minister said that over the next 10 years, solar with ESS is expected to reach cost-parity with current gas turbines. A country without hydro, geothermal or wind power potential, Singapore sees natural gas continuing to play a big role in its total energy mix till alternative sources of power generation are scaled up.