In 2025, Singapore relies heavily on fossil fuels for electricity consumption, with more than 95% of its electricity generated from fossil energy sources, primarily natural gas. This means that clean energy sources such as solar power contribute approximately 3% to the electricity mix. The dominance of fossil energy in Singapore's electricity production reflects a significant opportunity for the country to improve its energy sustainability by increasing its low-carbon electricity generation. Despite being a small island nation with limited natural resources, Singapore can leverage its high solar insolation to expand solar energy adoption, thus reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to global efforts against climate change and air pollution.

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

Is Electricity Growing in Singapore?

Electricity consumption per person in Singapore has seen a growth, albeit slightly, with the latest figure reaching 10,483 kWh per person in 2025, up from the previous year's record of 10,400 kWh. This marginal increase signifies a somewhat positive trajectory in electricity consumption, which aligns with the growing demand driven by electrification and technological advancements like AI. However, it is concerning that the generation of low-carbon electricity has witnessed a decline, falling to 285 kWh per person in 2025 from 511 kWh the previous year. This drop in low-carbon electricity generation is a worrying sign and presents an urgent call to action for Singapore to focus strongly on strategies that will enhance the share of clean electricity in its energy mix.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Singapore should draw inspiration from successful regions worldwide. Although Singapore cannot mimic countries like France or Slovakia, which rely heavily on nuclear power for their clean energy needs, it can certainly learn from countries with a high penetration of solar energy, like California and Cyprus, which have shown success in scaling their solar capacity to meet electricity demands. Also, Singapore could explore offshore wind opportunities, taking cues from Denmark, which generates a significant portion of its electricity through wind energy. By investing in cutting-edge solar and potentially even exploring nuclear technology, where feasible, Singapore can transition towards a more sustainable and environmental-friendly electricity system.

History

Historically, Singapore has seen incremental progress in its low-carbon electricity generation, primarily from solar and biofuels. Since the late 2010s, there has been a focused effort to increase solar energy capacity, with steady annual additions. In recent years, specifically from 2022 to 2025, Singapore notably increased its solar electricity output by approximately 0.3 TWh to 0.4 TWh annually. However, despite these efforts, biofuels have experienced some fluctuation, with notable increases and occasional declines. While the increment in solar power is encouraging, the overall contribution of low-carbon energy remains modest, highlighting the need for more expansive and ambitious plans to deploy clean energy solutions, particularly solar and potentially even innovative nuclear technologies, to meet future electricity demands.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade