China, Singapore partner on large-scale cross-border solar project

Singapore-based Equator Renewables Asia and the renewables arm of China’s China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), CRE International Co., Ltd. (CREI), have signed a joint-venture agreement to develop a major cross-border solar and battery-storage project in Indonesia, with a portion of the electricity output scheduled for export to Singapore.

Under the agreement, the project will involve a 2,200 MWp solar-PV installation paired with 3,200 MWh of battery-energy-storage systems (BESS), located in Indonesia’s Riau Islands. Up to 400 MW (AC) of electricity generated will be transmitted via subsea cable to Singapore, according to Oil Price.

Key details & responsibilities

CREI will lead the investment, construction and operation of the solar-PV and battery-storage components of the project, while Equator Renewables Asia will manage the transmission link and offtake coordination for power exports to Singapore. 

The initiative forms part of the Green Corridor Indonesia (GCI) consortium. The consortium is working with Indonesian and Singaporean authorities to establish a regulated “Green Electricity Corridor” within the ASEAN region.

Strategic context & motivation

Singapore’s government has set a target of importing around 6 GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035. A significant increase from earlier goals. The proposed solar-plus-storage export to Singapore aligns with this ambition, as the city-state looks to decarbonize its power sector, which currently accounts for approximately 40% of its carbon emissions. 

For China and CNNC, the project strengthens their role in regional clean-energy infrastructure and international energy cooperation. For Indonesia, the scheme taps into the country’s solar-resource potential and positions it as an electricity-exporting hub in Southeast Asia.

Challenges & outlook

While ambitious in scale, the project faces a number of potential hurdles. These include securing necessary regulatory clearances across three jurisdictions (Indonesia, Singapore, China), ensuring the reliability of the subsea transmission link, and guaranteeing that the large-scale battery storage system can deliver firm (dispatchable) low-carbon power. Additionally, capital-intensive build-out and the need for stable governance frameworks remain crucial.

If successfully implemented, the project could mark one of the largest solar-and-storage projects of its kind in Southeast Asia, and set a template for cross-border renewable-energy cooperation within ASEAN. It could enable Singapore to source a meaningful portion of its low-carbon electricity from abroad, while leveraging Indonesia’s solar potential and China’s manufacturing and development scale.

Why this matters

The agreement highlights three major trends in global clean-energy markets:

• The increasing prevalence of cross-border renewable-energy projects, especially in Asia, where nations seek firm, low-carbon power across borders.
  
• The growing role of battery storage paired with solar to deliver dispatchable power, not just intermittent generation.
  
• The emergence of regional transmission links and electricity-export models as countries like Singapore look to diversify supply and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
  

In sum, the China–Singapore joint venture underscores how the renewable energy transition is no longer just about domestic installations, it is now about international partnerships, large-scale infrastructure, and multi-nation supply-chain and transmission systems.

As the project progresses, stakeholders from the region will be closely watching for indications of timing, financing, and regulatory alignment. If it succeeds, it may accelerate similar ventures across ASEAN and beyond.