EMA grants conditional nod for 900‑MW Malaysia power imports

This will supply Sembcorp and Ditrolic energy projects, both expected to operate in 2029. 

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has granted conditional approvals for two projects to import a combined 900 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore.

Sembcorp Utilities received approval for a proposed 300-MW import, whilst Southern Solar Alliance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia-based Ditrolic Energy Holdings, was approved for 600-MW. Both projects will source electricity generated from solar and battery energy storage systems in Johor.

The EMA said both groups are targeting commercial operations around 2029, subject to regulatory approvals and other project milestones. 

In a separate statement, Ditrolic said its 600-MW export project will form the first phase of the Southern Johor Renewable Energy Corridor and will be supported by about 4 GWp of solar generation capacity and 5.1 GWh of utility-scale battery energy storage. 

It added that close to 90% of the planned energy output has already attracted offtake interest from Singapore-based users across sectors such as transport, airport and port operations, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and real estate.

The EMA said the latest approvals add to earlier Malaysia-Singapore energy initiatives, including a conditional approval for the import of 1 GW of low-carbon electricity from Sarawak and feasibility studies for a second electricity interconnection of up to 2 GW.

To date, the authority has granted conditional approvals and conditional licences to 13 electricity import projects involving Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.