Singapore Targets 4GWp of Solar Power by 2035 as It Expands Beyond Rooftops- Singapore is stepping up its renewable-energy ambitions, setting a new target of 4 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar capacity by 2035 as it explores ways to install panels across a wider range of urban spaces. The plans include solar carports, building facades and underused land, reflecting the country’s efforts to overcome one of its biggest clean-energy challenges: limited space.
The new target, announced during Singapore International Energy Week in October 2026, raises the country’s previous goal of reaching 3GWp by 2030. Singapore has already installed approximately 2.3GWp of solar capacity, providing a foundation for the next phase of expansion. However, reaching the new target will require additional installations and new approaches to making solar energy viable in a densely built environment.
Unlike countries with extensive open land for large solar farms, Singapore must integrate renewable-energy infrastructure into existing buildings, transport facilities and public spaces. The next stage of its solar strategy is therefore about making better use of the space already available, rather than relying exclusively on conventional rooftop installations.
At the Asia Clean Energy Summit on October 27, Minister of State for Energy, Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang outlined several potential approaches. These include installing solar panels on building walls, expanding solar carports and exploring the use of vacant land through mobile, containerised solar systems. Selected projects will receive funding from JTC to develop and test their proposed solutions.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to turn urban infrastructure into a source of clean electricity. Carparks, commercial buildings and other public facilities could contribute to solar generation without requiring large areas of undeveloped land to be converted into energy projects.
Solar carports are one option under consideration. By placing photovoltaic panels above parking spaces, these structures can generate electricity while providing shade and some protection from rain. Depending on the design and electrical infrastructure, they could also support electric-vehicle charging, potentially linking renewable-energy generation with Singapore’s expanding electrification efforts.
The advantage of solar carports is that they can serve two purposes at once: producing electricity and making existing public spaces more functional. Their economic viability will nevertheless depend on installation costs, structural requirements, maintenance and the amount of sunlight available at each site.
Building facades offer another potential source of generation. Singapore’s tall buildings provide extensive vertical surfaces that could supplement rooftop solar installations. Integrating photovoltaic systems into walls, windows or other parts of a building’s exterior could help increase the amount of solar energy generated within the city.
However, facade installations present technical challenges that differ from those associated with rooftop systems. Buildings vary in their orientation, design and exposure to sunlight, while surrounding structures can cast shadows that reduce electricity production. Engineers must also consider wind loads, waterproofing, fire safety, maintenance access and the additional weight placed on existing structures.
Gan acknowledged these difficulties, noting that facade installations require careful consideration of building design, orientation, structural requirements, maintenance, performance and cost. The government is therefore looking to test practical solutions rather than assuming that every building can accommodate the same technology.
The objective is to identify designs that are technically reliable, economically viable and suitable for Singapore’s urban landscape. Successful projects could provide a model for wider adoption across government and commercial properties.
The government is also examining ways to make better use of vacant land. One proposal involves mobile, containerised solar panels, which could potentially be deployed on sites where conventional installations are impractical or where land may be needed for other purposes in the future. Modular systems could offer greater flexibility by allowing equipment to be installed, relocated or adapted as land-use requirements change.
Such solutions could be particularly relevant in a country where land is in constant demand for housing, transport, industry and public infrastructure. Temporary solar installations may provide an additional source of electricity without permanently committing valuable land to a single purpose. Their practical application will depend on site conditions, connection to the electricity grid, deployment costs and the availability of suitable locations.
To encourage innovation, selected projects will receive funding from JTC to develop and test their proposed technologies. The first challenge focuses on solutions that can be installed directly onto building facades. This approach could help identify technologies that are suitable for Singapore’s climate and built environment while giving businesses an opportunity to demonstrate their commercial potential.
Public-sector support could help bridge the gap between experimental technologies and wider deployment. Testing new systems in real-world conditions can reveal engineering problems, establish performance benchmarks and provide the evidence needed to determine whether projects should be expanded.
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is also preparing a new tender to increase solar installations across public premises. Unlike conventional procurement exercises focused mainly on rooftops, the initiative will include additional surfaces and technologies, such as solar carports and building-integrated photovoltaics.
By combining demand from several government agencies, the tender is intended to create economies of scale and more opportunities for solar companies. Aggregating projects can make it easier for suppliers to plan investments, develop standardised solutions and compete for larger contracts. It could also encourage companies to develop technologies specifically suited to Singapore’s urban conditions.
The initiative has implications beyond the immediate installation of panels. A larger and more predictable public-sector market could support local expertise in solar engineering, installation, building integration and maintenance. It may also encourage collaboration between government agencies, property owners, technology providers and energy companies.
Nevertheless, expanding solar capacity is not simply a matter of installing more panels. Singapore must balance electricity generation with the practical requirements of urban development. Solar systems need to perform reliably in hot, humid and rainy conditions, while installations on buildings must meet safety standards and remain accessible for maintenance. Projects must also demonstrate that the electricity generated justifies their capital and operating costs.
Solar power is an important part of Singapore’s energy transition, but it cannot independently meet every requirement of a modern economy. The country’s limited land area and relatively modest domestic renewable-energy potential mean that it must pursue a broader mix of solutions, including regional electricity imports, energy storage, improved efficiency and emerging low-carbon technologies.
This wider strategy is particularly important as Singapore seeks to maintain energy security while reducing emissions. Electricity demand from industry, digital infrastructure and other economic activities will make reliable and affordable power increasingly important. Expanding domestic solar generation can help diversify the energy mix, although its output varies with weather conditions and time of day.
The increase from the previous 3GWp target to 4GWp by 2035 signals a continued commitment to developing solar energy despite these constraints. With 2.3GWp already installed, Singapore has established a base from which to expand, but the remaining capacity will require sustained investment, suitable infrastructure and effective coordination between the public and private sectors.
Singapore’s approach offers a wider lesson for densely populated cities: renewable energy does not have to be limited to traditional power-generation sites. Buildings, carparks and temporarily available land can all become part of a more distributed energy system when technology, planning and economics align.
Ultimately, the success of the 2035 target will depend on whether Singapore can translate its proposals into installations that deliver dependable electricity at a competitive cost. Solar facades, carports and mobile systems could broaden the country’s renewable-energy options, but each will need to demonstrate its practical value.
The challenge is to make every suitable surface contribute without compromising safety, affordability or other land-use priorities. By expanding solar beyond rooftops, Singapore is exploring how a land-constrained city can extract more clean energy from the infrastructure it already has.
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