TNB Achieves Historic Milestone with First Renewable Energy Export to Singapore
13 December 2024, Kuala Lumpur – In a historic moment for the ASEAN energy sector, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) successfully exported its maiden supply of renewable energy (RE) to Singapore at 11:30 a.m. today, marking a significant step forward in the region’s energy transition.
The milestone event, witnessed by Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, took place at TNB’s National Load & Despatch Centre (NLDC) in Bangsar. This cross-border renewable energy supply comes just days after TNB inked a Renewable Energy Supply Agreement (RESA) with Singapore’s licensed electricity importer, Sembcorp Power Pte Ltd, on December 9. Here
Under the RESA, Singapore will import 50 megawatts (MW) of green energy, backed by Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The agreement stems from a competitive bidding process facilitated through Energy Exchange Malaysia (ENEGEM) in June this year. This initiative aligns with the Cross-border Electricity Sales for Renewable Energy (CBES RE) Scheme and supports the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) vision for a connected, sustainable energy network.
Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah highlighted the significance of this achievement: “This first-ever RE export with RECs into Singapore is part of PETRA’s initiative under the CBES RE Scheme. It was made possible through the facilitation and support of the Energy Commission, TNB, Grid System Operator, Single Buyer, ENEGEM, and Sembcorp.”
He added that the export underscores ASEAN’s collective push to realise the APG initiative, which seeks to bolster regional energy connectivity and sustainability. “As Malaysia prepares to chair ASEAN in 2025, this milestone demonstrates our commitment to accelerating the energy transition and enhancing regional energy security,” he said.
TNB President and CEO, Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, emphasized the broader impact of the deal on Malaysia’s decarbonisation efforts. “The export of 50MW of renewable energy to Singapore will catalyse further investments in large-scale RE generation by TNB and other energy players. This marks a critical step toward positioning Malaysia as a key player in ASEAN’s green electricity trade.”
Currently, the Malaysia-Singapore interconnection has a total capacity of 1,000MW. Of this, 300MW has been allocated for the CBES RE Scheme, while 200MW is reserved for Phase 2 of the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP). For now, only 50MW is being exported under the CBES RE arrangement.
“TNB remains steadfast in driving the APG initiative and fostering deeper regional energy integration. This inaugural RE supply demonstrates our determination to advance ASEAN’s renewable energy goals,” Datuk Megat Jalaluddin said.
The achievement not only highlights Malaysia’s role as a leader in the regional energy transition but also strengthens ASEAN’s collective efforts to develop a connected and sustainable energy future.
About Tenaga Nasional Berhad
TNB is Malaysia’s leading utility company with a growing international footprint in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Turkiye, and beyond. Its renewable energy portfolio comprises solar, wind, and hydro assets, with a total gross capacity of 3,119MW in Malaysia and 1,183MW internationally. TNB serves over 11 million customers across Malaysia.
About National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC)
Operated by the Grid System Operator (GSO), NLDC manages the real-time operation and reliability of Peninsular Malaysia’s grid system, ensuring efficient and secure energy supply.
-Press Release / AsiaNewsToday
