Enabling energy imports for Singapore

With limited land area, Singapore relies heavily on imports through interconnectors and subsea cables from neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia to sustain its energy needs. By 2035, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) aims to import up to 4GW of low-carbon electricity, equivalent to around 30 percent of the nation’s projected electricity supply. It is imperative that the power system remains equipped to accommodate the entry of new supply capacities such as electricity imports.

Electricity can be supplied to Singapore either under a plant-to-grid High-Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) configuration or a grid-to-grid High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) configuration. The plant-to-grid HVAC configuration connects an electricity generation source directly to the receiving grid, while the grid-to-grid HVDC configuration requires greater coordination as it caters for mutual support between the connected grids

GHD was appointed to conduct an in-depth review of the global landscape on grid-to-grid HVDC interconnectors, integrating lessons learned from various jurisdictions pertaining to implementation, operation and maintenance. The review delved into uncovering opportunities to enhance the reliability and availability of interconnectors coupled with implications for policy, regulatory, and technical requirements in Singapore.

Leveraging our proficiency in robust, proven software platforms including PSS/E, PSCAD and PLEXOS, we reviewed Singapore’s grid network and implemented a cost-benefit analysis framework to determine the optimal number of HVDC interconnectors and their future operational impacts.

Through global benchmarking of HVDC interconnector projects and analysis of key success factors and implementation challenges, we provided actionable insights tailored to Singapore’s context. These insights intend to support refining Singapore’s energy security and enabling the efficient integration of regional low-carbon electricity imports.