Singapore should do more to push RE use

Renewable energy use remains insignificant in Singapore but a more resolute political will could change that.

It’s not that well known that has one of the highest per capita carbon emissions in Asia. That should not be the case, according to Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

She said Singapore and Southeast Asia have the money to invest in greening their economies by investing in innovation, technology, clean energy and energy efficiency.

Singapore has accomplished a lot to increase energy efficiency levels in industry, commercial buildings and transport but the adoption of renewable or clean energy remains tepid despite government efforts to promote the use of RE.

There are also no renewable energy targets set by the government, which has gone on record as not being supportive of subsidies for RE developers. Without subsidies, the use of renewable energy will not be price competitive compared to current electricity tariffs.