Tuas Power sets eyes for a higher benchmark on energy transformation

The power and utility firm is aligning with Singapore’s net-zero goal by 2050.

Tuas Power, one of the leading power and utility firms in Singapore, accounting for over 20% of the country’s energy supply, is expected to generate more than 10,000 gigawatts per hour of electricity from its power plants. 

As the company runs the only coal/biomass cogeneration plant in the country, Tuas Power is taking steps to comply with Singapore’s energy transition, Michael Wong, Chief Operating Officer of Tuas Power told Asian Power.

One of the challenges in the power sector is the increase in carbon tax climbed from $5 (US$3.74) per tCO2e to $25 (US$18.69) per tCO2e, starting from 2024, with a of reaching $50 to $80 (US$37.37–US$59.80) by 2030. 

“One of the challenges for Tuas Power will be how we are going to decarbonise. There are several initiatives we have been working on. For our existing plants, we have been upgrading them to improve their efficiency to reduce carbon emissions,” Wong said. 

“We are also embarking on a conversion project to increase the use of biomass for the multi-utilities plant which will also help to reduce carbon emissions,” he added.

Even with the challenges, the company saw several progresses, such as a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PT Marubeni Indonesia for a strategic project in Leschenault, projected to generate 600 megawatts (MW), and six out of 26 proposals for a hydrogen ammonia pilot project. Tuas Power has set its goal of importing power by 2027.

Currently, Tuas Power has leaned on its “4D” goals in decarbonising its resources to adapt to the new energy landscape, digitalise to adapt to the advancement of technology, diversify the sources of energy, and develop the talents that define the workforce.