SP PowerAssets engaged ESC to support the responsible development of new import power transmission cables across 18 coastal and marine sites in Singapore. With many of these locations intersecting sensitive habitats and community shorelines, the project required a careful balance between energy security, engineering feasibility, and environmental protection.
About the Project
As Singapore continues to diversify and secure its energy supply, SP PowerAssets must ensure that new transmission infrastructure can be delivered without compromising marine ecosystems or neighbouring communities. Several of the proposed cable corridors run through areas with complex intertidal conditions, diverse ecological receptors, and strict permitting requirements.
To move forward confidently, SP PowerAssets required independent expertise to understand potential environmental constraints, validate the viability of low-impact installation methods, and ensure that early planning decisions would support long-term operational resilience. ESC was appointed to provide this environmental clarity from the outset.
Our Approach
ESC delivered the assessment through a combination of field insight, local regulatory knowledge, and practical experience working in Singapore’s highly managed coastal and marine environments. We began by conducting a detailed Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to map sensitive receptors, characterise physical and biological conditions, and flag environmental risks along the 18 proposed cable sites. This work drew on both publicly available datasets and observations from targeted site visits.
Building on these findings, we evaluated the feasibility of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) as a preferred construction technique. Our team assessed its suitability for minimising seabed and intertidal disturbance, reducing ecological impact, and protecting buried cable infrastructure from vessel activity and other external pressures. We collaborated closely with HDD specialists to validate design assumptions and ensure best-practice integration.
To support seamless project progression, ESC also outlined the permitting steps and implementation considerations required to maintain compliance with Singapore’s regulatory expectations. This provided SP PowerAssets with a clear pathway for advancing the project responsibly, efficiently, and with minimal environmental footprint.
Outcome
ESC’s assessments equipped SP PowerAssets with a strong evidence base to proceed with the cable installation programme sustainably and with confidence. By confirming the viability of HDD and identifying site-specific sensitivities early, the project team can now minimise seabed and intertidal disturbance, enhance technical feasibility and safety, and reinforce long-term operational resilience across future transmission assets.
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