Singapore Energy

Singapore is rapidly emerging as a high-value hub for energy innovation, global energy trading, and advanced power technologies in Asia. For U.S. companies, the country’s aggressive energy security goals, clear regulatory pathways, and growing appetite for foreign expertise create significant opportunities in nuclear innovation, energy storage, and cross-border power trading.

Most Southeast Asian nations, including Singapore, remain cautious but interested in nuclear energy, balancing energy security needs against safety concerns, high capital costs, and public perception challenges. Singapore, a small city-state with limited space and natural resources, has historically relied on fossil fuels to meet growing energy demands, with natural gas accounting for 95% of electricity generation. Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) is facilitating a future where domestic innovations and global trade relationships contribute to increased energy generation from other sources.

For example, Singapore hopes to harness nuclear power and hydrogen production as domestic energy sources yet more innovation is necessary for their adoption to be possible. Singapore’s density and space constraints prevent it from building conventional nuclear power plants safely. As innovations like small modular reactors (SMRs) make nuclear energy more feasible, Singapore is investing in studying the risks and feasibility of their application. Since very few SMRs have been commercially deployed, Singapore is cautious about implementing them, though they may become more viable as they gain widespread application elsewhere.

U.S. companies who are able to provide expertise and share best practices in the following areas will have opportunities over the next 5-10 years as various Southeast Asian countries make the decision on civil nuclear energy.

•    Types of SMR currently being developed and how best to select the appropriate technology. 
•    Public Education and Nuclear Research into safe and peaceful uses of nuclear science.
•    Other businesses such as waste disposal that support the civil nuclear industry.
•    Insurance and financial implications for nuclear energy infrastructure.
•    Developing manpower pipelines and training between regional countries.
•    Challenges in building capacity for a nuclear program in Singapore and the region.

Singapore’s collaboration with the United States is expanding. The inaugural Singapore–U.S. Forum in 2024 and the 2025 session at Singapore International Energy Week created high-level platforms to discuss energy innovation—including carbon capture, hydrogen/ammonia, and civil nuclear technologies. U.S. companies should aim to attend these annual events in the future to obtain the latest updates and meet senior government officials.

For more information, please contact Commercial Specialist CHAN Y K at U.S. Commercial Service Singapore.