Tuas Power diversifies business for Singapore's energy transition

The country's sole operator will rely on biomass and renewable energy imports for decarbonisation.

- Vann Villegas

As Singapore embarks on its energy transition, Tuas Power, one of the leading utilities firms in the country, faces a tall order to decarbonise its operations as it runs fossil fuel generating facilities, including the sole coal power plant in the market.

Owned by China Huaneg Group through its subsidiary Sino-Singapore Power (Private) Co. Ltd., Tuas Power has a total installed capacity of 2,467 megawatts (MW): a 600-MW oil-fired unit, four 367.5-MW natural gas combined cycle (NGCC), and a 406-MW NGCC unit. It also operates the Tembusu Multi Utilities Complex which uses biomass coal to produce steam for power generation. This accounts for over 20% of Singapore’s energy share.

Speaking to Singapore Business Review, Tuas Power Chief Operating Officer Michael Wong candidly acknowledged that decarbonisation is a challenge for their operations. Unfazed, though, the power company has embarked on initiatives to enhance the operational efficiency and diminish carbon emissions in its existing plants.

Wong said this entails significant upgrades. Some of the measures Tuas Power is implementing for the energy transition is increasing the share of biomass use for power generation, and exploring importation of renewable energy from Indonesia, he said.