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Singapore’s Pulau Ubin is shifting to green energy, reducing its carbon emissions and reliance on diesel generators.
Teen Yen Lee
Head of Brand, Communications & Sustainability @ EDP Renewables APAC
Pulau Ubin, a quaint island in the north-east of Singapore, has historically depended on diesel generators to power its main village. This reliance not only posed environmental risks but also created a dependency on a non-renewable energy source. The island's residents and businesses endured unreliable and inconsistent power which impeded community development while also contributing to significant carbon emissions.
To tackle these issues, EDP Renewables APAC, in collaboration with the Energy Market Authority, greened Pulau Ubin’s Green Micro-grid project with renewable sources. This initiative introduces a Solar Green Roof and a 1 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System (VRB ESS), delivering a dependable, renewable energy source to over 30 households and businesses in the island’s main village.
By drastically reducing their dependence on diesel, the project has slashed annual diesel consumption by about 100,000 litres and avoided 268,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions.
This endeavour not only supports Singapore’s ambitious decarbonisation goals but also demonstrates how innovation and sustainability can drive impactful results. The Pulau Ubin Green Microgrid project underscores EDP Renewables' dedication to advancing clean energy solutions while upholding environmental stewardship and profitability.
The Pulau Ubin Green Micro-grid project excels in its dual focus on innovation and sustainability. The Solar Green Roof, featuring a 328kWp solar photovoltaic system, is enhanced by greenery planted beneath the panels to regulate ambient temperatures, boosting efficiency by up to 4%. Additionally, the project introduces Singapore’s first utility-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Energy Storage System. This cutting-edge technology, with a lifespan of up to 25 years, offers significant advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, such as reduced fire risks and enhanced long-term sustainability, which makes it most suitable for remote and off-grid environments such as Pulau Ubin.
By diminishing the island’s reliance on diesel, the project has provided Pulau Ubin’s residents with a stable, clean energy source, fostering a more resilient community. It also serves as a pioneering model for future green energy solutions on off-grid islands across the Asia Pacific, where similar micro-grid systems could aid in decarbonising other island communities.
Looking ahead, EDP Renewables APAC is exploring opportunities with the Energy Market Authority to extend the green microgrid system beyond Pulau Ubin’s main village, potentially covering the entire island. This expansion would further integrate renewable energy into the local micro-grid, bolstering energy security and advancing Singapore’s sustainability objectives. The success of this project highlights the potential for scaling similar innovations across the region, accelerating the energy transition in Asia Pacific.
EDP Renewables is a global leader in the renewable energy sector, committed to leading the energy transition and creating superior value through sustainable innovation. It is a division of EDP, which is recognised as the world’s most sustainable electric utility in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. With a mission to drive the energy transition and a commitment to investing in innovative technologies, EDP Renewables consistently delivers projects that align with global environmental goals. In APAC, the company has a pan-regional presence with more than 1.5GWp of committed solar capacity as of May 2024. The company aims to increase its renewables capacity to at least 5 GW by 2030, and lead the energy transition in APAC. The Pulau Ubin Green Micro-grid project exemplifies the company’s dedication to sustainability, community upliftment, and the pursuit of excellence in renewable energy solutions.
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The SL25 partners - Stewardship Asia Centre, the INSEAD Hoffmann Institute, WTW and The Straits Times - are not responsible for the statements and opinions expressed by the organisations behind the SL25 projects. These organisations are responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of their content in their applications as well as those presented on this site, which are not guaranteed by the SL25 partners. All information on this site reflects the submissions received as of 15 Apr 2025, the closing application date for SL25. Inclusion to the SL25 list is based on the particular project(s) described in the application form. SL25 is not intended as a blanket endorsement of the organisation as a whole.
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