Singapore Updates Energy Standards to Combat Greenwashing
Singapore is updating its renewable energy certificate standards and launching new solar initiatives to increase clean energy imports and domestic deployment.
The Singaporean government is updating the Singapore Standard 673 (SS673) for renewable energy certificates (RECs) to prevent greenwashing and improve the viability of clean energy imports. Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, announced that companies claiming to use clean power in Singapore must now use RECs linked to electricity physically supplied to the local grid, regardless of whether the source is domestic or imported.
This regulatory shift ensures companies cannot claim local clean power usage based on RECs from projects that only supply electricity to other countries. Gan Siow Huang stated that the updated standard will strengthen trust in corporate sustainability reporting and reduce the risk of greenwashing concerns.
To reach a solar deployment target of 4 gigawatt-peak by 2035, the government is expanding solar infrastructure into unconventional spaces. JTC Corporation awarded the first overhang solar project to EDP Apac, while the Energy Market Authority is piloting solar roof tiles for heritage buildings and creating a digital portal for private landed residences. Additionally, Singapore aims to import 6 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity by 2035 and plans to seek ASEAN endorsement for submarine power cable guidelines next year.
