Singapore – Latest developments in the area of renewable energy

In a nutshell:

Singapore is very keen on the issue of sustainability and clean energy and with the “Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015” or the ”Public Sector Sustainability Plan 2017-2020” it has already put the topic on its political agenda.

In a nutshell:

Singapore is very keen on the issue of sustainability and clean energy and with the “Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015” or the ”Public Sector Sustainability Plan 2017-2020” it has already put the topic on its political agenda.

With the 2018 budget, Singapore introduced the so-called ”Carbon Tax” (CO₂ tax). The tax will be levied on all facilities producing at least 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in a year. The carbon tax will be levied for the first time in 2020 at the rate of SGD 5 (based on the 2019 emissions) and will be effective until 2023.  Starting from the year 2023, the rate of the CO₂ tax will be gradually increased so that it reaches SGD 10-15 per tonne of greenhouse emissions in 2030.

Today, there are already numerous interesting initiatives in the area of renewable energies, in particular solar energy. After the Apple company started to cover its entire energy demand from solar energy in 2016, also Microsoft has resolved to this energy source. At the beginning of March, the company announced that it would meet its energy needs from solar energy from Sunseap, a renewable energy provider.

Furthermore, StartHub, a major telecommunications provider based in Singapore, has merged with Sunseap to provide solar power to Singaporean households starting from April 2018. Solar power will be offered under two different models: the ”Green Life” model where households will be able to cover their entire energy needs from solar energy without incurring any additional costs, while under the ”Green Save” model households will get 5% of electricity from renewable energy and will receive a 20% discount on the electricity tariff.

With the 2018 budget, Singapore introduced the so-called ”Carbon Tax” (CO₂ tax). The tax will be levied on all facilities producing at least 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in a year. The carbon tax will be levied for the first time in 2020 at the rate of SGD 5 (based on the 2019 emissions) and will be effective until 2023.  Starting from the year 2023, the rate of the CO₂ tax will be gradually increased so that it reaches SGD 10-15 per tonne of greenhouse emissions in 2030.

Today, there are already numerous interesting initiatives in the area of renewable energies, in particular solar energy. After the Apple company started to cover its entire energy demand from solar energy in 2016, also Microsoft has resolved to this energy source. At the beginning of March, the company announced that it would meet its energy needs from solar energy from Sunseap, a renewable energy provider.

Furthermore, StartHub, a major telecommunications provider based in Singapore, has merged with Sunseap to provide solar power to Singaporean households starting from April 2018. Solar power will be offered under two different models: the ”Green Life” model where households will be able to cover their entire energy needs from solar energy without incurring any additional costs, while under the ”Green Save” model households will get 5% of electricity from renewable energy and will receive a 20% discount on the electricity tariff.