SolarNova: Singapore Energy Authority Declares Solar as 'Most Viable' Energy Source

EDP Renewables (EDPR) has renewed its partnership with Microsoft for Singapore’s largest solar energy portfolio, SolarNova. Under the agreement, Microsoft will purchase 100% of the renewable energy generated from EDPR’s SolarNova 8 project, with a capacity of up to 200MW-peak (MWp).

Awarded Phase 8 of the SolarNova programme, EDPR will install solar panels on over 1,000 public housing buildings and more than 100 government-owned structures. The energy generated will power common services during the day.

The SolarNova programme, launched by the Singaporean government in 2014, aims to boost the country’s solar industry and contribute to its national solar targets of 1.5GWp by 2025 and 2GWp by 2030. SolarNova is expected to generate 420 gigawatt-hours of solar energy annually, reducing carbon emissions by over 96,000 tonnes.

EDP and EDPR CEO Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade stated that the partnership with Microsoft is a significant step towards achieving Singapore’s sustainability goals and accelerating the energy transition.

Solar energy is considered Singapore's most viable renewable resource, with installed capacity rising significantly from 126MWp in 2016 to 1.17GWp in 2023. By 2035, solar PV is predicted to contribute 78% of Singapore’s renewable power capacity.