Singapore updates renewable energy certificate standard to tackle greenwashing; unveils new solar efforts

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

63% : The Republic is updating the Singapore Standard 673 (SS673) to specify that companies claiming to use clean power in the country with RECs should ensure these instruments are linked to green electricity supplied directly to the local power grid - either from domestic sources, such as solar installations, or from clean power imports.
61% : It is working with the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) to explore developing a digital portal to aggregate solar-related information and services, help homeowners connect with solar installers, and explore group purchase opportunities.
58% : RECs are market-based instruments originating from clean energy projects - such as solar and wind farms - that companies can purchase to offset their electricity consumption from fossil fuels, to meet corporate sustainability targets.
56% : Singapore is updating its standard for renewable energy certificates (RECs) to tackle greenwashing risks, while rolling out fresh efforts to "harness solar energy wherever we can", Minister of State for Trade and Industry Gan Siow Huang announced on Tuesday (Oct 27).
56% : These efforts are in line with Singapore's new solar deployment target of 4 gigawatt-peak by 2035 announced on Monday - even as solar power can only meet at most 10 per cent of its electricity needs in 2050.
55% : "The updated SS673 will strengthen trust in corporate sustainability reporting and reduce the risk... of greenwashing concerns," said Gan during her keynote address at the Asia Clean Energy Summit, held alongside the Singapore International Energy Week.
50% : The update means that companies adopting SS673 should not claim to use clean power in Singapore based on RECs tied to renewables supplied to other countries.
50% : EMA, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM plan to pilot these tiles on heritage state buildings - allowing clean power generation without affecting architectural features.

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