Over the past year, from August 2024 to July 2025, Singapore's electricity consumption has been largely dominated by fossil fuels, with almost all of the electricity generation—97.3%—coming from these sources. Notably, natural gas comprises a significant portion, accounting for nearly 95% of electricity generation. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean electricity, which includes options like solar, made up only about 2.42% of the mix. The entirety of Singapore's clean energy in this period came from solar power. The heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, highlights the country's current energy challenge: it needs to incrementally transition towards more sustainable energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce air pollution.

Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Singapore?

Singapore's electricity consumption is showing very gradual growth. The recent data from 2025 indicates that the total electricity consumption reached 10,402 kWh per person, which is a slight increase from the previous record of 10,400 kWh per person in 2024. This marks just a modest increase of 2 kWh per person. However, the low-carbon electricity generation per person saw a notable decrease, dropping from 511 kWh per person in 2024 to 252 kWh in 2025, indicating a reduction of 259 kWh. This decline is concerning, as it highlights challenges in expanding the adoption and development of clean energy sources. The stagnation in low-carbon electricity generation undermines the goal of reaching a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy portfolio.

Suggestions

To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Singapore can draw inspiration from several regions around the world. By adopting a mixed approach that includes both solar and nuclear energy, Singapore can diversify its energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Countries like France and Slovakia, which generate more than 65% of their electricity from nuclear power, demonstrate the potential of nuclear as a reliable clean energy source. Meanwhile, the success of Lebanon and Nevada in harnessing solar energy, generating around 30% of their electricity from this source, illustrates the potential of solar energy in regions with sufficient sunlight, similar to Singapore. By strategically investing in both nuclear and solar energy, Singapore can work toward a more sustainable energy future, ensuring reliable and clean electricity generation.

History

Singapore's history with low-carbon electricity generation reflects a slow but steady progression, punctuated by key developments over the past few decades. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, biofuels experienced minor growth as an energy source, with small annual increases of around 0.1 TWh. The more significant growth in clean electricity occurred much later, primarily affected by solar energy initiatives. Solar energy began gaining traction around 2016, with small incremental increases annually. A noteworthy spike in biofuels occurred in 2019, accompanied by a rise in solar contribution. However, a subsequent decline took place in 2020 and 2021 for biofuels, which underscores the need for consistent policy support and investment. Since 2022, there has been a positive, albeit modest, increase in solar energy, signaling growing interest in expanding solar generation as part of Singapore's clean energy transformation strategy.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade