Speech by Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng at the RECHARGE Wind Power Summit Asia-Pacific 2026 Opening Ceremony

Heiko Stutzinger, CEO of HMC, 

Pranjal Borkotoky, Senior Director of DN Media, 

Ambassadors and Commissioners, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

1.             It is a pleasure to be here to welcome you to Singapore for the RECHARGE Wind Power Summit 2026 Asia Pacific. 

Introduction 

2.             Today marks Singapore’s inaugural wind energy summit, and the first time that WindEnergy Hamburg – the world’s leading wind energy industry event – has ventured beyond Europe. RECHARGE and HMC chose to bring this summit to Singapore, at the heart of Asia Pacific, and not by accident. It reflects the industry’s growing global ambition, and the recognition that this region will write, will lead, the next chapter of the energy transition.   

3.             Singapore is proud to partner RECHARGE and HMC to host a series of wind energy events until 2029. We look forward to building a lasting platform for ideas, for partnerships, and decisions that will shape the future of this industry. 

A Landmark Moment for Wind Energy 

4.             To appreciate the significance of this summit, let us step back and review where we stand today. 

5.             In 2025, global new wind energy capacity grew by 40% from the year before, reaching the highest level ever recorded. This brought total installed wind power capacity to nearly 1,300 gigawatts – enough to power over 1 billion households.[1] 

6.             In the span of forty years, wind energy has grown from a niche, experimental technology into a major source of renewable energy.   

7.             That journey began with the oil shocks of the 1970s, when the world was forced to confront the fragility of its energy foundations. 

8.             Those shocks sparked serious investment in alternative energy sources, including in wind. The lessons learnt from that era was clear: energy security cannot rest on a single source, a single supplier, or a single region. 

Asia: The Next Frontier for Energy Transition 

9.             Today, we stand at another inflection point. 

10.          Geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East continue to strain global energy supply chains. The cost of dependence on fossil fuels has never been more visible. And the urgency of securing renewable, diversified, and resilient energy sources has never been greater. 

11.          Against this backdrop, Asia will set the stage for what comes next. Growth is expected to remain strong, with global capacity projected to grow at a 5.2% CAGR over the next five years. Asia will account for 60% or more of new onshore installations. 

12.          The question before us therefore is not simply whether the wind energy sector will grow. It will. The real question is whether it will grow at the pace and scale that the energy transition demands – and what we must do to make that happen. 

Singapore’s Approach to Grow the Global Wind Energy Sector 

13.          Singapore is an alternate energy disadvantaged country, and we lack the land, wind, and hydro resources that other countries can draw upon. Yet we are no less resolute, and have not waited to act. We have accelerated solar deployment, invested in emerging low-carbon technologies, and are making steady progress to electrify our vehicle fleet – all in pursuit of a new low-carbon future. 

14.          Singapore’s contribution to the global energy transition extends way beyond our shores. While we do not have significant wind energy resources, we can still play a meaningful role in the wind energy sector, especially in offshore wind energy. We will do so across three areas: Capabilities, Innovation, and Collaboration.  

Capabilities 

15.          The first area is strengthening capabilities. Singapore’s marine and offshore energy companies have spent decades in some of the most demanding operating environments in the world. 

16.          Drawing on expertise forged in the oil and gas industry, they are now well positioned to support the growing needs of the offshore wind energy sector. 

17.          Singapore companies are already making their mark on projects around the world. They build vessels that lift and install massive turbines at sea, connect projects to the grid, and support inspection and maintenance operations in deep waters. 

a. Seatrium, for instance, has drawn on its marine and offshore engineering competencies to build offshore substations and wind turbine installation vessels. It is on track to contribute over 16 gigawatts of offshore substation capacity across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific. 

b. Furthermore, Marco Polo Marine has developed a state-of-the-art vessel that is currently being deployed in Asia to support construction of offshore windfarms. 

18.          These companies showcase a mature, capable ecosystem in Singapore that is punching way above its weight in the global wind energy sector. 

19.          We are committed to strengthening these capabilities further. I am pleased to announce today, the launch of the refreshed Marine and Offshore Energy Industry Digital Plan, developed by Enterprise Singapore and IMDA.   

a. The refreshed plan will support companies in adopting digital and AI solutions to improve productivity across all facets of their business operations. 

b. Such solutions will help speed up product design, optimise operations, and enhance asset monitoring – empowering our companies to compete better for global projects. 

c. As the wind energy sector grows in complexity and scale, our companies must be equipped to lead and seize new opportunities. We welcome companies with innovative solutions to help shape the future of this industry together. 

Innovation 

20.          The second area is on enabling innovation. 

21.          To scale offshore wind energy effectively, we need faster innovation cycles. We are strengthening industry and academia linkages to co-develop tools and technologies that will transform this sector. 

22.          I am happy to share that Singapore’s Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine or TCOMS and the NUS AI Institute are launching a new initiative – CATALYST. 

a. Supported by Enterprise Singapore, CATALYST will develop AI models tailored for the marine and offshore energy sector, to accelerate testing and design cycles for vessels and floating offshore structures and enable predictive maintenance. 

b. At the design stage, the industry can use AI-enabled virtual test environments to shorten design cycles and reduce testing costs – allowing companies, especially SMEs, to de-risk within a sandbox environment before committing to heavy capital investment. 

c. When it comes to operations and maintenance, operators of marine and offshore assets can tap an AI-enabled digital twin platform to draw actionable insights from operational data, achieve predictive maintenance and reduce downtime. 

Collaboration 

23.          The third area is collaboration. I believe that no single country, company or institution can drive the energy transition alone. 

24.          Singapore is actively partnering other countries to advance offshore wind energy technologies. I am pleased to share that TCOMS and Japan’s Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association[2] will be signing an MOU to advance floating offshore wind technologies. 

a. This is an emerging technology that holds enormous promise for a region where shallow-water sites for fixed offshore wind turbines are limited. 

b. Japan has built deep expertise in this area through years of sustained research and pilot projects. Singapore, through TCOMS, brings expertise in marine and offshore engineering and systems integration to the partnership.   

c. Together, we are well positioned to strengthen the development of floating offshore wind energy. 

25.          Singapore is also contributing to the global standards that will underpin the future of wind energy. 

26.          Enterprise Singapore has convened a Joint Working Group comprising experts involved in the IEC TC 88, which is a key Technical Committee on wind energy generation systems. The Group contributes to the development of standards in turbine design, site assessment, power quality, and simulation technologies. 

27.          Collaboration also means upholding open and resilient global energy supply chains. As the global environment grows even more complex, Singapore remains committed to supporting the free flow of energy and goods, and to ensuring supply chains continue to run smoothly during this period of uncertainty. 

Conclusion 

28.          Ladies and gentlemen, the energy challenges before us are real, and they are pressing, they are urgent. But this also means that the opportunities are here. 

29.          Two forces are reshaping the energy transition today. On one hand, a growing sense of urgency, as geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions expose the fragility of our energy systems and dependence on fossil fuels. On the other hand, there is growing possibility, as advances in renewable energy and technology open the door to a greener and more resilient future. This is why collective action – across borders, industries, and between the public and private sectors – is more important than ever. 

30.          Singapore is committed to playing our part, and we look forward to contributing meaningfully to the global wind energy industry.

31.          I invite all of you to partner Singapore on this journey in shaping the future of wind energy, and look forward to seeing you at future editions of this summit. 

32.          Thank you. 

[1] Based on European consumption figures, 1GW powers about 0.88 million European households. At this rate, 1,300GW translates to roughly 1.14 billion households. Source: Global Wind Energy Council, Global Offshore Wind Report (2025).

[2] Japan’s Floating Offshore Wind Research Association (FLOWRA) is a developer-led industry consortium comprising major Japanese energy companies and stakeholders, focused on advancing the commercialisation of floating offshore wind through coordinated R&D, demonstration projects, and supply chain development. It is a key stakeholder for Singapore as its members are project developers and decision-makers driving offshore wind deployment in Japan.