Singapore’s clean energy dilemma is a warning for small nations

In this file photo taken on Feb 3, 2021, workers assemble solar panels on the shore of the Tengeh reservoir as part of the constuction of a floating solar power farm in Singapore. The country on July 14 unveiled one of the biggest floating solar power farms, covering an area the size of 45 football fields, part of the city-state's push to cut greenhouse gas emissions. - AFP

SINGAPORE, Feb 12 (Bloomberg): Singapore’s desire to shift to renewable sources of energy is running up against its geographic limitations. It hasn’t got enough space for large solar installations, there are no major rivers for hydro and what little breeze the tropical city-state gets isn’t sufficient to push a wind turbine.

That’s forced the South-East Asian financial and transport hub to rely on imports in its plans to transition away from fossil fuels. It’s a common strategy for small places -- Hong Kong, Monaco and Bahrain are in a similar position -- but it’s dependent on nearby countries being willing to export carbon-free power.