In a creative move to overcome land scarcity, Singapore’s JTC Corporation has put out a tender for a pioneering overhang solar photovoltaic (PV) system to be installed at 15 Woodlands Loop. This pilot project, a first for the nation, is a collaborative effort with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Energy Market Authority (EMA). It aims to transform the underutilized space between multi-storey industrial buildings into a productive source of renewable energy.
Exploring the Singapore solar PV tender: Unique 2024 Woodlands Project
The project will span approximately 4,300 square metres of open space between buildings, introducing a large, cantilevered structure designed to hold an extensive array of solar panels. This innovative approach targets a minimum installed capacity of 250 kilowatt-peak (kWp) and represents a significant step in rethinking urban solar deployment. The design leverages a lightweight composite structure, minimizing the structural load on the existing buildings and reducing the need for certain metal solar panel raw materials. The system is also engineered to be resilient against strong winds, ensuring its long-term safety and operational stability.
The project timeline includes a 15-month phase for design, construction, testing, and commissioning. Following this, the system will operate for 10 years, with all electricity generated being exported to the national grid. Understanding the basics of solar panel manufacturing helps appreciate the engineering challenges and innovations involved in adapting PV technology for such unique applications.
Unlocking New Potential for Clean Energy
This initiative builds on JTC’s successful track record with programs like SolarRoof and SolarLand, continuing its strategy of optimizing all available spaces for solar energy generation. JTC’s chief sustainability officer, Finn Tay, highlighted the importance of this forward-thinking approach. “Solar energy remains a key renewable energy source for powering our estates, and we are pushing ourselves to look beyond conventional rooftops and ground-mounted systems,” Tay stated. “This pilot is one example of how we are rethinking underused spaces to unlock new solar potential and support Singapore’s long-term energy goals.”
Once operational, the Woodlands Loop installation is projected to generate 900 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually, sufficient to power about 200 four-room public housing flats. This contributes directly to the national ambition for solar energy to potentially cover 10% of Singapore’s energy demand by 2050.
Supporting Singapore’s Green Ambitions
The overhang PV project is a key contributor to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which has set a target of deploying at least 2 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar energy by 2030. With over 1,775 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar PV systems already installed nationwide, this target—enough to power roughly 350,000 households annually—is well within sight. The success of this pilot could set a precedent for similar installations across the island, revolutionizing the solar panel manufacturing process to better suit dense urban environments.
The tender for this innovative project was launched on December 17, 2023. Interested parties can access further details on the GeBIZ procurement portal. To gain a deeper understanding of the technology driving these advancements, consider exploring this free e-course on solar panel manufacturing.
Sources
- Singapore to pilot ‘overhang’ solar power structure, as it nears …
- Floating solar farms: Powering Southeast Asia’s renewable future
- Raising solar deployment target also has ‘economic and geopolitical …
- Singapore to pilot ‘overhang’ solar power structure, as it nears …
- [PDF] GREENGOV.SG – Singapore Green Plan 2030
- How Singapore built one of the world’s biggest floating solar farms
- Infrastructure & PPPs in Singapore, Laos and Cambodia – Q4 2025 …
