Singapore's Power Play: A Health & Economic Lesson for Canada?

SINGAPORE – November 25, 2025 – Half a world away from Canada’s vast landscapes, the dense city-state of Singapore is engineering one of the most ambitious energy pivots on the planet. Faced with a near-total dependence on imported fuel and a critical lack of space for renewables, the nation is pursuing a radical, multi-billion-dollar strategy to secure its future. While the context could not be more different from our own, Singapore’s high-stakes gamble on technology, regional cooperation, and massive infrastructure investment offers a powerful case study for Canada—a lesson not just in energy policy, but in the profound link between a nation's power grid, its economic resilience, and the long-term health of its communities.

A new market outlook report from Research and Markets details this transformation, forecasting the island’s power landscape to 2035. But beyond the corporate strategies and investment figures lies a story of national urgency. Singapore is building a blueprint for how a country can turn its greatest constraints into a catalyst for innovation, and in doing so, it provides a mirror for Canada to examine its own approach to one of the defining challenges of our time.

A National Blueprint for Decarbonization

At the heart of Singapore's strategy is a cohesive national plan known as the "Four Switches," driven by its ambitious Green Plan 2030 and a net-zero target by 2050. This isn't a loose collection of ideas; it's a coordinated, public-private push to overhaul the country's entire energy DNA. While natural gas still generates 95% of its electricity, the focus has shifted decisively towards the future. New gas-fired power plants, like those being developed by YTL PowerSeraya and PacificLight Power, are required to be significantly more efficient and hydrogen-compatible, preparing for a future beyond fossil fuels.

The second switch, solar power, is being pursued with remarkable creativity. In a nation where land is the most precious commodity, Singapore is deploying solar panels on every available surface, from rooftops to reservoirs. Leading domestic player Sembcorp Industries, for instance, operates one of the world's largest inland floating solar farms. This push is complemented by a major investment in grid-scale energy storage systems, crucial for balancing the intermittent nature of solar power and ensuring the lights stay on.

But the most audacious elements are the third and fourth switches: regional power grids and low-carbon alternatives. Singapore is actively investing in emerging technologies like green hydrogen and geothermal energy. Major corporations including Sembcorp, Keppel, and YTL PowerSeraya are already building a new generation of hydrogen-ready power plants on Jurong Island, signaling a clear direction of travel for the industry. This coordinated effort between government regulation and corporate investment creates a powerful momentum that is rapidly transforming the market.

Betting Big on Neighbours: The Geopolitics of Green Energy

Perhaps the most radical component of Singapore's plan is its decision to look beyond its borders for power. The nation has set a stunning goal to import up to 6 gigawatts (GW) of low-carbon electricity by 2035—enough to meet roughly a third of its total demand. This strategy aims to turn Singapore into a central hub of a nascent ASEAN Power Grid, fostering regional cooperation while accessing cleaner energy sources.

The initiative is already bearing fruit. A pilot project is successfully importing 100 MW of hydropower from Laos via Thailand and Malaysia, with plans to double the capacity. More significantly, Singapore has granted conditional approvals for projects that will supply up to 3.4 GW of electricity, primarily solar power, from neighbouring Indonesia. These projects involve major international players like Japan's Marubeni and France's Engie, underscoring the global investor confidence in Singapore's vision.

Even more ambitious is the Australia-Asia PowerLink (SunCable) project, which aims to transmit solar power from Australia's Northern Territory through a 4,300-kilometer subsea cable. While facing significant financial and technical hurdles, the project's very existence speaks to the scale of Singapore’s thinking. This strategy is not without risk, as it introduces a reliance on the political stability and regulatory follow-through of its neighbours. However, as commentary from energy consultancies suggests, by acting as a major buyer, Singapore is single-handedly catalyzing renewable energy development across Southeast Asia.

The Hidden Dividend: Why a Modern Grid is a Public Health Victory

From a healthcare perspective, the most compelling aspect of Singapore's energy transition is the profound, if sometimes overlooked, impact on community well-being. The aggressive push to decarbonize the power grid is, at its core, a massive public health initiative. Shifting away from fossil fuels reduces air pollution, a direct contributor to lower rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and other respiratory ailments. For a densely populated city, cleaner air translates directly into a healthier population and reduced strain on the healthcare system.

Furthermore, the focus on grid modernization creates a foundation for community resilience. Initiatives like building a "Grid Digital Twin"—a virtual replica of the physical grid—and expanding energy storage capacity are about more than just managing renewables. They ensure a stable, reliable power supply for critical infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, and emergency services. In an era of increasing climate volatility, this kind of energy security is a fundamental determinant of health.

This transition also addresses health equity. Volatile fossil fuel prices often lead to unpredictable energy bills, disproportionately impacting low-income households and forcing difficult choices between heating, food, and medicine. By investing in stable, long-term contracts for renewable energy, Singapore aims to create a more predictable and ultimately more affordable energy future, easing the burden on its most vulnerable citizens.

A Tale of Two Nations: Lessons for Canada's Patchwork Approach

Observing Singapore’s unified strategy from Canada highlights a stark contrast. While Canada is blessed with an abundance of renewable resources like hydro, wind, and solar, our progress is often hampered by a fragmented, province-by-province approach. The political and logistical hurdles to building robust inter-provincial transmission lines—our version of a national grid—make initiatives like the ASEAN Power Grid seem both ambitious and enviable.

Singapore’s experience poses critical questions for Canadian policymakers, businesses, and communities. Is our regulatory environment fostering the same sense of urgency and attracting the scale of private investment needed for our own transition? While Singapore is driven by scarcity, Canada's challenge is one of scale and distance. Yet, the core problem is the same: how to build the clean, resilient, and interconnected energy system of the 21st century.

The island nation's journey demonstrates that a national energy strategy is inseparable from a national health strategy. By treating grid modernization and decarbonization as a critical investment in economic stability and public health, Singapore offers a powerful model. Its context may be different, but its clarity of purpose and commitment to execution provide a valuable lesson that a secure, clean, and affordable energy future is the bedrock of a healthy and prosperous society.