SINGAPORE WANTS TO CONNECT ITS POWER GRID WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

Expanding power grid connections with Indonesia and Malaysia will help Singapore utilize clean energy.

Wong Kim Yin, CEO of SP Group, a Singaporean government-owned energy conglomerate, stated that the group aims to further build and connect the power grid with neighboring countries, specifically Malaysia and Indonesia, to harness and leverage the vast renewable energy potential of these nations.

Countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have ample land resources for installing solar panels and sufficient wind energy for power generation. According to Wong Kim Yin, expanding power grid connections with these neighboring countries will help Singapore utilize clean energy even if the country lacks the conditions and capabilities for production.

Wong Kim Yin mentioned that Singapore’s current legal regulations dictate that the existing power connection between Singapore and Malaysia can only be used in emergency situations.

According to Wong Kim Yin, a bilateral agreement between the two governments could immediately allow power transmission between the two countries and initiate a trend towards broader international power grid connections.

In addition to connecting the power grid with neighboring countries, Wong Kim Yin also mentioned several other measures to promote clean energy use, such as SP Group’s efforts to accelerate the conversion of electric vehicles in Singapore by completing the construction of 1,000 charging stations by the end of 2020, up from the current 200 stations.

Furthermore, technology (including nuclear and hydrogen technology) could be potential options in the next 15 years, but they need to be further invested in and developed to ensure safety and cost-effectiveness.

Earlier last week, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing, affirmed that a regional power grid connection is one of the four measures that Singapore will exploit and utilize to support the “decarbonization” of its power system, which heavily relies on imported natural gas.

Also last week, Malaysian Energy Minister Yeo Bee Yin stated that the country is in discussions with Singapore regarding cross-border power supply. Malaysia hopes to complete a new 550MW power transmission system with Singapore this year and another similar system in 2020.

The idea of connecting power transmission systems across Southeast Asia has been proposed for over 20 years but has not materialized due to a lack of coordination between governments and insufficient investment in infrastructure. Malaysia currently has power connections with Thailand, and Thailand also has power transmission connections with Laos.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/singapore-muon-ket-noi-luoi-dien-voi-cac-nuoc-lang-gieng-20191106115014173.htm