CMS Expert Guide to Agrivoltaics and Floating Photovoltaics in Singapore

Yes, agrivoltaics are regulated in Singapore. Although there is no statute or regulation enacted specifically for agrivoltaics, several statutes and regulations are relevant to the implementation of agrivoltaics systems. These include the following: (a) Electricity Act 2001, which governs the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Singapore such that any solar energy generation, including from agrivoltaics systems, must comply with its provisions; (b) Building Control Act 1989, which regulates the construction and modification of buildings, including any installation of solar panels or agrivoltaics systems on rooftops or other structures from a safety and structural integrity perspective; and (c) Planning Act 1998, which governs the planning and improvement of Singapore’s land use. These statutes and regulations ensure that agrivoltaics projects adhere to Singapore’s standards for energy, building, and safety compliance.

Yes, there are several agrivoltaics projects implemented in Singapore, although the extent to which agrivoltaics projects will be implemented across the country is limited by its land size. The precedent agrivoltaics projects include (a) the Circular Farm, completed in July 2024, which was built for an international preschool in Singapore, incorporating advanced sustainability technologies into the educational environment; and (b) the Yuhua Agritech Solar Living Lab, which is the first rooftop project in Singapore linking renewable energy and urban farming. It adopts a system with various sensors which can develop a self-learning algorithm that will allow for fully automate future agrivoltaic systems to be developed.

Yes, regulatory challenges are one of the key reasons behind the limited adoption of solar panels in Singapore. These challenges include complex approval processes for the installation of solar panels and the regulatory framework for the integration of solar power into the national grid.edure for connecting electricity generation facilities to better accommodate agrivoltaics. 

Notwithstanding the constraints of land size in Singapore, there are however a total of 98.7 million m² of rooftop surface area across all buildings, and approximately 13.2 km² could be suitable for solar PV installations, including agrivoltaics. 1  In addition to rooftops, around 7 km² of Singapore’s total agricultural land is also considered a potential area for agrivoltaics, further expanding the opportunities for combining agriculture and solar energy generation.  2

Yes. Singapore’s government provides supports through various programmes, such as (a) the SG Eco Fund, which is a $50 million fund established in 2020 by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment to support projects that advance environmental sustainability in Singapore; 3  and (b) the Enterprise Financing Scheme (Green), which is a scheme launched by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) to improve access to green financing for enterprises such as Project Developers, The goal is to foster a strong pool of enterprises in these sectors, driving economic value, environmental impact, and creating quality jobs for Singaporeans. ESG will provide a 70% risk-share to encourage lending from participating financial institutions. 4

FPV are regulated in Singapore. Although there is no statute or regulation enacted specifically for FPV, several statutes and regulations are relevant to their implementation. These include the Electricity Act 2001, the Planning Act 1998, the Environmental Protection & Management Act 1999, the Environmental Public Health Act 1987, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996. Additionally, the Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution) Act 2008 and the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act 1990 are also relevant. In addition, several guidelines provide best practices and a framework for safe environmental practices and minimising pollution during the installation and operation of floating PV systems. 

Yes, there are several FPV projects implemented in Singapore, although the extent to which FPV projects will be implemented across Singapore is limited by its inland waters and seawaters. The precedent FPV projects can be categorised as Inland Water Projects and Seawater Projects. Inland Water Projects include (a) a 60MWp Sembcorp Tengah floating solar farm completed in July 2021, which is located at Tengah Reservoir, and is one of the world’s largest inland floating solar farms, covering 45 hectares; and (b) small-scale pilots of 1.5MWp floating PV systems at Bedok and Lower Seletar Reservoirs, generating enough energy for about 800 four-room public housing and reducing carbon emission by 1.5 kilotonnes annually. Seawater Projects include (a) 1.5 MWp pilot project called Project Circularity (FPV system at Jurong Island), which is the first membrane-based nearshore floating solar system at Jurong Island, and features three circular platforms; and (b) 5MWP nearshore floating PV project at the Straits of Johor, which is the world’s first large-scale project of its kind, expected to generate 6,022,500 kWh annually, offsetting 4,258 tons of CO2 emissions.

Yes, regulatory challenges are one of the key reasons behind the limited adoption of solar panels in Singapore. These challenges include complex approval processes for the installation of solar panels and the regulatory framework for the integration of solar power into the national grid.

Singapore has a small portion of water bodies suitable for FPV projects, and is restricted further by environmental concerns and competing uses such as recreation and military training. A study suggests that approximately 4 km² of inland waters could be used for FPV projects, with about 2.5 km² available after accounting for space needed for maintenance and safety equipment. Additionally, there are 2.12 km² of coastal "dead sea spaces" in Singapore's near-shore waters, which are unsuitable for other uses or impacted by industrial activities, such as areas behind jetties. These spaces also present an opportunity for FPV systems. 5

Yes. Singapore’s government provides supports through various programmes, such as (a) Grants provided by various governmental authorities and/or agencies; (b) Green Bonds, which are financial instruments used to fund projects with environmental benefits and provide investors with regular or fixed income payments. In this space, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) is particularly active, with its green bonds being part of a new $10 billion multicurrency, medium-term note programme. By 2022, PUB has issued S$800 million worth of green bonds with 30-year tenor, and these have been priced to yield 3.4%;  6  and (c) the Enterprise Financing Scheme (Green), which is a scheme launched by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) to improve access to green financing for enterprises such as Project Developers, The goal is to foster a strong pool of enterprises in these sectors, driving economic value, environmental impact, and creating quality jobs for Singaporeans. ESG will provide a 70% risk-share to encourage lending from participating financial institutions. 7