Energy Efficiency

Industrial Sector

The industry sector is the largest energy-consuming sector in Singapore and hence there is significant potential for energy savings through better and sustained energy management. Better energy management leads to improvement in energy efficiency, which minimises energy wastages, cuts energy costs and helps companies reduce their bottom lines. 

  • Energy Conservation Act (ECA)

The ECA was enacted in June 2012, and the Energy Conservation (Energy Management Practices) Regulations came into force on 22 April 2013. Through the ECA, mandatory energy management practices were introduced, aiming to focus management attention on proper energy management, as well as to level up laggards that manage energy use inadequately. 

In June 2017, the ECA was enhanced to stipulate more energy management practices as part of Singapore's efforts to achieve its pledge under the Paris Agreement on climate change to reduce emission intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030, and to stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. 

The enhancements include strengthening the measurement and reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions, requiring companies to implement energy management system,  undertake regular energy efficiency opportunity assessments or implement energy performance monitoring, and introducing minimum energy efficiency standards for common industrial equipment and systems.

Find out more about the up-coming enhancements to the ECA.

1. News Release
2. Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2017

  • Mandatory Energy Management Practices for Existing Industrial Facilities

With effect from 22 April 2013, a corporation will be a registrable corporation under the ECA if it meets the following qualifications:

  1. It has operational control over a business activity which has attained the energy use threshold (54TJ of energy used per calendar year) in at least 2 out of the 3 preceding calendar years; and

  2. The business activity is carried out at a single site and is attributable to one of the following sectors:
  • manufacturing and manufacturing-related services;
  • supply of electricity, gas, steam, compressed air and chilled water for air-conditioning; and
  • water supply and sewage and waste management.

Once registered, corporations will be required to implement the following energy management practices:

  1. appoint an energy manager;
  2. monitor and report energy use and greenhouse gas emissions annually; and
  3. submit energy efficiency improvement plans annually.

Click here to find out more.

Useful Documents and Tools

  1. Industry Briefing on the Mandatory Energy Management Requirements (25 & 26 March 2013) [PDF, 1.23 MB]
  2. Mandatory Energy Management Requirements Brochure [PDF, 1.04 MB]
  3. Energy Consumption Calculator: Assess whether the Annual Energy Consumption of a Company exceeds 54 TJ [XLS, 79.5 KB]
  4. Step-by-step Guide to Registering with NEA via the EDMA portal [PDF, 2.95 MB]
  5. FAQ
  
  • Registration and Submission Portal

The online portal facilitates registration of companies and submission of energy use reports and energy efficiency improvement plans as required under the ECA. Companies who are under the ambit of the Public Utilities (Water Supply) Regulations can use the same portal to submit notifications and water efficiency management plans to the Public Utilities Board.

  • Mandatory Energy Management Practices for New Industrial Facilities and Major Expansions

With effect from 1 October 2018, owners of New Ventures (new industrial facilities and major expansions of existing facilities) with an estimated Annual Energy Consumption (AEC) ≥ 54TJ must review the facility design for energy efficiency and develop economically feasible energy efficiency opportunities, by conducting an energy efficiency opportunities assessment (EEOA) and submitting the EEOA report.

An owner of a New Venture is also advised to plan for and install meters and instruments at energy-consuming systems that account for at least 80% of the New Venture facility’s annual energy consumption.

Click here to find out more.

  • Mandatory Energy Management Practices for Registered Corporations (RCs)

With effect from 1 January 2020, a registered corporation under the ECA must, for each relevant business activity under its operational control, conduct an Energy Efficiency Opportunities Assessment (EEOA) for the relevant business activity, and submit an assessment report endorsed by a certified EEO assessor to NEA before the expiry of their respective six-year assessment period.

The EEOA shall cover:

  1. Energy Consuming Systems (ECSs ) consuming fuel or energy commodities totalling at least 80% of the total energy consumption of the business activity; and
  2. Other ECSs consuming energy output from systems identified in (A), either directly or indirectly.

In the identification of ECSs that make up at least 80% of the total energy consumption, RCs shall make use of the data acquired during a chosen reference period of 12 consecutive months within the six-year assessment period.

Click here to find out more.

MEES for water-cooled chilled water systems was introduced as part of the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) on-going efforts to improve energy efficiency in Singapore industry. 

With effect from 1 December 2020, water-cooled chilled water systems in new industrial facilities (NIF) must conform to MEES requirements.

With effect from 1 December 2025, MEES requirements is extended to existing energy intensive facilities registered under the Energy Conservation Act and other existing industrial facilities. 

Click here to find out more

The introduction of MEPS for common industrial equipment and systems will lead to the phase out of inefficient models from the market and catalyse the transformation of the market towards more efficient models. Besides enjoying life-cycle cost savings from lower energy consumption, companies will also reduce their carbon footprint.


  • Three-phase 50 Hz induction motors

With effect from 1 October 2018, single speed, three-phase 50 Hz induction motors must have a minimum energy efficiency level of IE3.

  • Three-phase Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air-conditioners

With effect from 1 April 2021, all three-phase VRF air-conditioners must comply with MELS and MEPS.  

Click here to find out more.

  • Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG)

The EEG aims to support businesses in their sustainability journey by co-funding investment in energy efficient (EE) equipment.

Click here to find out more about the EEG.

  • Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions (REG(E))

EDB’s Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions (REG(E)) supports manufacturing facilities and data centres to be more energy efficient and improve competitiveness. Grant support for REG(E) will correspond to the amount of carbon abatement, up to the maximum cap of 50% of qualifying costs.

The EENP is a voluntary partnership programme to support companies in their energy efficiency efforts through learning network activities, energy efficiency-related resources, incentives and recognition.

Join the EENP to enjoy discounts on training programmes and workshops on energy efficiency and energy management.

An ESCO is a company dedicated to provision of energy efficient technology and services including financing, design, implementation and management of projects.

Find out more about ESCO Accreditation Scheme and the list of accredited ESCOs here.

The Energy Efficiency Promotion Centre (EEPC) serves as a convenient one-stop centre for providing industrial energy efficiency related resources.  Companies may contact EEPC for assistance on the mandatory energy management requirements under the Energy Conservation Act, energy efficiency investments, information on energy efficiency measures, available incentives, energy efficiency training, or to link up with knowledge partners.

EEPC contacts:
Email: nea_eepc@nea.gov.sg