Singapore's geothermal potential put at over 60 times annual power use

Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) said on October 26, at Singapore International Energy Week, that a nationwide non-invasive geophysical survey conducted from 2024 to 2026 puts the preliminary technical potential of Singapore's deep geothermal resources at more than 60 times the country's annual electricity consumption of around 60 terawatt-hours. Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng announced the findings in the Singapore Energy Lecture, calling them "a very good start".

What the survey found

The survey was carried out by a consortium of consultants including Chevron, Metatek Group and Surbana Jurong, without drilling or excavating the ground. It found high-temperature geothermal resources several kilometres underground that may be suitable for electricity generation, and lower-temperature resources at shallower depths that could potentially support industrial heating and cooling using heat pumps and absorption chillers.

Sixty times is not recoverable electricity

EMA stressed that the 60-times figure is technical potential, not commercially recoverable electricity. Further studies are needed to validate the estimates and determine how much geothermal energy can feasibly be extracted. Tan said that if realised, geothermal energy could power Singapore for the next 60 or so years, but added that no decision has been made on deploying geothermal energy, and it could take many years before that decision point is reached.

Next step: a 15-month feasibility study

As an immediate next step, EMA has appointed a consortium formed by Surbana Jurong and energy consultancy GLJ Ltd to study the feasibility of deploying next-generation geothermal plants in Singapore. The study is scheduled to begin by the end of 2026 and take about 15 months, assessing safety, technical viability and production costs. Tan noted that because the resources lie several kilometres underground, how much electricity Singapore can eventually generate will depend on extraction costs, technical feasibility and the pace of advances in deep drilling technology, while the dense urban environment will also affect how many plants can feasibly be deployed.

Tan listed geothermal as an option Singapore will explore seriously, while making clear that exploration is not yet a decision to deploy.