Regional Hydrogen: Singapore launches hydrogen-ready power plant tender to meet rising electricity demand

By Romel S. Gurky

Singapore’s Energy Market Authority has launched a request for proposals (RFP) to develop new electricity generation capacity, as demand is expected to rise sharply over the next decade.

The tender calls for the private sector to build, own and operate hydrogen-ready combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) units, with one unit targeted to be operational in 2031 and up to two additional units in 2032. Each plant is expected to provide at least 600 megawatts of capacity.

The initiative is part of a centralized process aimed at ensuring sufficient and reliable power supply amid growing consumption driven by energy-intensive industries such as semiconductors and data centers.

Power demand is projected to grow between 2.4% and 4.8% annually over the next 10 years, with peak demand expected to reach between 9.6 gigawatts and 11.4 gigawatts by 2031, according to the regulator.

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EMA said gas-fired generation will continue to play a key role in maintaining baseload supply while the country expands its portfolio of cleaner energy sources.

Submissions for the 2031 unit are due by June 24, 2026, while proposals for the 2032 units must be submitted by September 30, 2026.

The move underscores efforts to balance energy security with the transition toward lower-carbon power systems, as demand continues to rise alongside economic and digital sector growth.  

Editing by Alexander Ginting