Quantum Power Asia, the developer of Indonesia’s first utility-scale solar panel plant, and German-based solar energy solutions provider ib vogt, will build a US$5-billion solar generation and storage facility that could export up to 4TWh of renewable energy to Singapore annually.
The project covering over more than 4,000 hectares in the Riau Islands south of Singapore will be capable of generating more than 3.5 GW of solar PV and storing 12 GWh of renewable energy which is intended for export to Singapore via an undersea cable.
The project will be carried out by Anantara Energy Holdings, the joint venture formed last year by Quantum Power Asia and ib vogt, to serve the large-scale off-grid sector in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
To date, Anantara has secured agreements from corporates in Singapore, including MNCs and local businesses, to supply more than 4TWh a year of imported clean energy to meet their energy needs and achieve sustainability goals in line with RE100 commitments.
Anantara has responded to Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) request for proposals (RFP) to obtain licenses to supply and import clean energy from neighbouring countries including Indonesia. The RFP is part of Singapore's ongoing initiatives to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
When fully commissioned in 2032, the proposed Anantara project is expected to deliver about 8% of Singapore's annual electricity generation, thereby reducing the grid's current reliance on liquefied natural gas.
For this project Anantara has partnered with Singapore’s electricity retailer Union Power, which will handle connectivity of imported clean energy and related services to residential, industrial and commercial customers. EMA-licensed Union Power currently retails electricity to about 22,000 retail customers in Singapore.
"The recent volatility of energy prices and challenges faced by Singapore's electricity market underscores the urgent need to review our supply of renewable energy. We are honoured to partner Quantum Power Asia and ib vogt in this transformational project which will greatly benefit Singapore homes, businesses and the nation at large as we progress towards net zero,” said Ellen Teo, CEO of Union Energy Corporation and executive director of Union Power.
The formal joint-development agreement for the Anantara partnership, Anantara's Memorandum of Understanding with Riau Islands Province, and the agreement between Anantara and Union Energy Corporation were signed yesterday in the Indonesian embassy in Singapore in the presence of Ambassador Suryo Pratomo and Ansar Ahmad, governor of Riau Islands Province.
"We are excited to present this major integrated initiative to EMA. Should we be successful in being awarded an import licence to Singapore, it will contribute significantly to the city’s journey towards carbon neutrality,” said Simon Bell, managing director and CEO, Quantum Power Asia, adding that the new facility will become “the largest PV-Storage System globally to date”.
Empowering local communities
The new solar generation and storage facility on Riau Islands Province is expected to benefit Indonesia and Singapore by supporting new businesses, creating up to 30,000 new jobs in Riau Islands and opening up fresh opportunities in the renewable energy sector in the region.
Emphasising corporate social responsibility, Anantara team members have spent extensive time in the Riau Islands to develop programmes to empower local communities and incorporate sustainability as a cornerstone of the project. Key focus areas include developing hyper-local supply chain linkages and providing skills training to the local community.
Anantara will also initiate business activities to involve local micro, small and medium enterprises to achieve deep impact on the local communities. These initiatives will help build and rehabilitate the necessary facilities, improve energy efficiency and open up opportunities to develop infrastructure while improving access to clean water, sanitation, education and employment.
Meanwhile, Anton Milner, managing director (CEO), ib vogt, said that the bilateral energy import initiative is a landmark project globally and will be a catalyst for the region's transformation towards clean, carbon-free energy.
“Based on the work done together with Quantum Power Asia and Union Energy Corporation, we are confident we have submitted a compelling proposal to EMA in order to create sustainable long-term value both for Singapore and Indonesia,” said Milner.
Quantum Power designs, finances and operates renewable energy systems across Asia, and developed Indonesia's first unsolicited utility-scale solar PV power plant which is now in operation. On the other hand, ib vogt focuses on the global development of PV plants and the intensified development of battery storage projects with a global project pipeline of more than 40,000 MW. The company offers all integral services of the value chain from development, financing, EPC and O&M to asset management in house.
