India and Singapore are reportedly accelerating plans to connect their power grids through an undersea cable via the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This connectivity will enable India to export renewable energy to Singapore, and an agreement is expected to be signed soon. The cost of the renewable energy exported to Singapore is projected to be cheaper than their current gas-based electricity.
The power sharing agreement with India will help Singapore in meeting its commitments under the Paris agreement by expanding its renewable energy sources. The discussion on this matter took place during the G20 Energy Ministerial and Clean Energy Ministerial meetings. Singapore is exploring different options to expand its renewable energy sources due to land scarcity and intermittent solar power. The collaboration with India will provide them with an opportunity to access renewable energy from the Indian grid.
As reported by Swarajya, The Andaman and Nicobar islands, being geographically isolated, face challenges in power supply. Currently, most of their electricity generation comes from diesel-based sources, with only a small portion from hydro and solar sources. The grid connectivity with Singapore will also benefit the islands by enhancing their connectivity, especially with regards to renewable energy sources.
Apart from collaborating with Singapore, India is actively engaged in discussions with Saudi Arabia and the UAE to establish connections with their power grids for trading renewable energy. There is also a proposal to connect with Oman as a stopover before extending the connectivity to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This initiative could open up new opportunities for renewable energy trading between these countries.
