How Singapore’s robust ecosystem supported EDPR’s regional venture into solar innovations

Along the Straits of Johor between Singapore and Malaysia is an unusual sight – a nearshore floating solar photovoltaic system of over 13,000 solar panels. One of the world’s largest floating solar farms on seawater, the project is an innovative solution specially designed by EDP Renewables APAC for land-scarce, densely populated cities like Singapore to tap into renewable energy. The successful installation of the five megawatt-peak (MWp) project, which can generate enough solar energy to power 1,100 four-room flats in Singapore per year, paves the way for more of such projects to follow in the region.

Renewable energy from nearshore floating solar farms and other innovative sources are crucial to accelerating Southeast Asia’s energy transition. A joint report by EDB and McKinsey & Company estimates that solar and onshore wind power generation will have to increase between seven and twelvefold to meet the net-zero emission targets set by countries in the region. This in turn is a growth opportunity for businesses – according to a study by the International Energy Agency (IEA), clean energy investment needs to increase by nearly five-fold to about US$190 billion (S$260 billion) by 2035 in order to hit regional net-zero goals¹.

Recognising this potential for growth, global renewable energy leader EDPR established its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore via the acquisition of local renewable energy company Sunseap in February 2022².

Since then, EDP Renewables APAC has grown into a true regional trailblazer for renewables deployment, with a committed capacity of 1.6 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar energy projects (as of December 2024) in the region. The company has also more than tripled its total renewables capacity since February 2022, surpassing the one GW milestone. We examine some key decisions that played a major role in their success.
 

Prioritising scale and commitment when selecting a regional headquarters location

According to a report by Bain, Temasek, and Amazon Web Services, strong public-private partnerships are key to the success of any renewable energy deployment. Clear government objectives that set the pace of climate action and investment also provide a conducive environment for private sector investments, which can facilitate scalable energy solutions for the region.

To this end, Singapore stands out as a natural choice for renewable energy companies such as EDPR. Take the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a whole-of-nation movement to advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development. Among its 2030 targets is to increase solar deployment to at least two GWp — driving demand for renewable energy companies like EDPR. 
 

The Singapore advantage for EDPR is clear. Since establishing its APAC headquarters in the Republic, it has widened its presence to operations in Australia and is targeting to expand its renewables portfolio to up to five GWp of installed capacity by 2030.

EDPR is not alone. Today, more than 100 clean energy companies call Singapore home. These companies span the full range of the ecosystem, encompassing manufacturing, project development, operation and maintenance, green financing, and research innovations.
 

Embarking on bold and innovative projects

EDPR is keenly aware that game-changing solutions are needed if the Asia-Pacific region is to meet its 2030 net-zero targets. The company has therefore spearheaded several innovative initiatives in the region, often in partnership with regional renewables players. 

The infographics below illustrate four examples of EDPR’s work in the region:

The SolarNova programme is a Whole-Of-Government effort led by the EDB and Housing & Development Board (HDB) to accelerate the deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on rooftops of HDB blocks and government agency buildings in Singapore.

To date, EDPR contributes about 200 MWp of solar energy in public housing estates and other buildings. The energy generated from the solar panels on public housing buildings will be used to fully power common services in the day, such as the lifts, lights and water pumps. In 2024, EDPR was awarded the tender for Phase Eight of the SolarNova program. The company is committed to deliver a minimum tender capacity of 130 MWp with the potential to achieve up to 200MWp of solar capacity with this project.  When fully operational, the project will collectively power over 50,000 four-room flats and potentially reduce carbon emissions by more than 96,000 metric tonnes annually³.

Southeast Asia has vast renewable energy potential. Leveraging this, EDPR has sought to harness the region’s potential from its base in Singapore by operating and funding regional projects.

One such project is the Ninh Thuan project in Vietnam. The Ninh Thuan Solar Farm was developed by a partnership between Sunseap (now part of EDPR) and InfraCo Asia as part of a 20-year solar power purchase agreement to reduce carbon emissions by about 240,000 tonnes annually. The farm became commercially operational in 2019 and boasts a 168 MWp capacity with 42 inverters and 449,880 solar panels. It has a 271,000,000 MWh generation capability that can power up to 192,000 households in Vietnam.

Another project with spillover effects to the region is the Pulau Ubin Green Micro-grid project. In 2023, supported by the Energy Market Authority, EDPR worked to enhance the sustainability of Pulau Ubin’s micro-grid.

Pulau Ubin, or granite island, is situated just off North-East Singapore and is home to some of Singapore’s last kampongs or villages. While the island retains its rustic charm, it has no access to the modern public utilities on mainland Singapore. This presented significant logistical challenges to EDPR’s efforts, as major equipment had to be prefabricated on the main island before being transported to Pulau Ubin via sea barges.

Nonetheless, EDPR successfully installed a 328 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic system and a 1 Megawatt-hour (MWh) Energy Storage System (ESS). Together, these systems reduce the island’s reliance on diesel by about 100,000 litres per annum, and carbon dioxide emissions by 268,000 kg annually⁴. Two main innovations in this project are the Solar Green Roof, which enhances solar panel efficiency by regulating ambient temperatures through vegetation, and the use of vanadium instead of lithium-ion batteries due to their longer lifespan and reduced hazardous risk.

EDPR's installation of one of the world’s largest floating solar farms in open sea along the Straits of Johor sets a precedent for further developments in APAC. The company had to develop several innovations to deal with the open sea conditions, which presented different challenges from a land-based solar farm. They had to combat problems like barnacles, tidal waves, and the constantly shifting positions of the solar panels.

Beginning as a pilot project, it has since become a full-scale project that serves as a prototype for solarising other land-scarce areas in Asia. The solar farm consists of five MWp of solar capacity – enough to power 1,100 four-room flats in Singapore per year.

“Our cross-border interconnect project with Indonesia where we have recently been awarded the conditional license to import 400 MWac⁵ of clean energy into Singapore is another example of a potential prototype for future international collaborations in renewable energy, demonstrating the potential for large-scale clean energy integration and setting a precedent for sustainable energy solutions across borders,” he added.
 

Turning Singapore into a regional hub and robust gateway for renewables players to enter Southeast Asia

Globally, EDPR has been at the forefront of developing and scaling R&D and innovation projects – one of the many examples of the deepening renewable energy ecosystem in Singapore. In Asia, its renewable ambitions are powered from Singapore, bolstered by its strong talent pool, innovation infrastructure, accessibility to Southeast Asia and financial systems. While the country is small, it has big ambitions to become a global hub for renewable energy project development and financing, and to help accelerate Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon future.

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Footnote:

¹ The Business Times, “South-east Asia needs to boost investments five-fold by 2035 to meet climate goals: IEA”, 22 Oct 2024

² EDP Renewables. “EDPR completes agreement with Sunseap to establish its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore.” 22 Feb 2022

³ EDP Renewables, EDP Renewables secures largest Singapore public tender to install up to 200 MWp solar capacity, 27 Feb 2024

⁴ EDP Renewables, “Pulau Ubin green microgrid”, Accessed on 9 January 2025

⁵Megawatt alternating current