2. Speeches
Opening Address by Min(EST) Tan See Leng at the 25th Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry
29 October 2025
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A warm welcome to the 25th CEPSI, hosted by SP Group as part of its two-year presidency of the Association of the Electricity Supply Industry of East Asia and the Western Pacific. I am pleased to join you today as we discuss the opportunities and challenges of “Empowering the Energy Transition”.
Power grids play a key role in driving the energy transition
2. Singapore has worked hard to ensure that our grid is one of the most reliable in the world. However, as we decarbonise, our grid inevitably will face new challenges.
3. For example, renewable energy sources are often located far from demand centres. Long transmission lines, including from sources outside of Singapore, and the intermittent nature of renewables will introduce new operational challenges to our grid.
4. In addition, Singapore’s electricity demand is expected to increase significantly with the growth of electricity-intensive loads such as data centres and electric vehicles. Grid management will become more complex with these new load profiles.
5. To keep abreast of the energy transition, Singapore is focusing on three key priorities to future-proof our grid – specifically, on inter-connectivity, resilience, and flexibility. After all, there can be no transition without transmission.
Priority #1: Inter-connectivity through the ASEAN Power Grid
6. First, boosting interconnectivity. Regional power grids play a key role in accelerating the energy transition. It allows us to maximise the region’s diverse renewable energy potential and strengthen grid resilience through mutual support.
7. We have taken concrete steps towards realising the vision of an ASEAN Power Grid by 2045. At the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting two weeks ago, ASEAN leaders endorsed a Terms of Reference for the establishment of a subsea power cable framework.
8. This marked an important milestone. When realised, the framework will facilitate ASEAN member states in carrying out marine surveys, as well as the laying, maintenance, and protection of subsea power cables in the region.
Priority #2: Grid Resilience
9. Second, enhancing grid resilience. To provide a strong foundation for the regional power grid, we will need to transform and invest in our own grid to manage new operational challenges. EMA, in collaboration with SP Group, developed the Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap earlier this year. This roadmap sets clear directions for capability building in areas such as harnessing the flexibility of distributed energy resources and managing new system needs such as inertia.
10. We will also need to deploy new assets to enhance grid resilience. One example is energy storage systems (ESS) to provide instantaneous response to demand and supply fluctuations from intermittent renewable energy sources.
11. This year, EMA and Sembcorp expanded its ESS system on Jurong Island from 285 MWh to 326 MWh by deploying new batteries that store twice as much energy. We will work with Sembcorp to study the potential of the new system to respond to frequency changes and stabilise the grid during contingency events. The new system also trialled battery stacking, thereby reducing land take.
Priority #3: Grid Flexibility
12. Third, with greater diversity in sources and loads, the grid needs to become more flexible and responsive to changes in supply and demand. EMA is therefore introducing a Demand-Side Flexibility Roadmap. This outlines EMA’s plans to harness demand-side resources to meet the needs of the power grid caused by supply or demand fluctuations.
13. For example, EMA will consider shorter activation periods for its Interruptible Load programme. This complements EMA’s Demand Response programme, where participants such as ComfortDelGro’s EV charging stations will automatically adjust energy consumption in response to power system needs.
14. Apart from demand-side initiatives, EMA will explore how underutilised distributed energy resources and loads can play a bigger role in enhancing the stability of the power system. One possible approach is through sustaining the activation of these distributed energy resources over extended periods. We will launch a Request for Information to explore the feasibility and design of a programme to harness the potential of these assets.
15. In addition, EMA will launch a virtual power plant (VPP) pilot.
VPPs are digital platforms that can aggregate and optimise distributed energy resources such as solar and batteries as a single power source. The pilot will assess how VPPs can address system needs, such as through consolidating power from smaller energy sources to meet demand.
Conclusion
16. Ladies and Gentlemen, in conclusion, I am not here to put forward the message of making grids great again. We are all perfectly aware of the fundamental importance of grids to our power systems. Let us continue to work together on interconnectivity, resilience, and flexibility to ensure that our grids continue to remain stable, reliable, and ready to support the energy transition.
17. I wish you a successful conference ahead.
18. Thank you.