Singapore is building the regulatory framework for Virtual Power Plants. We're partnering with NTU's Energy Research Institute (ERI@N) to prepare pilot deployments that will test how behind-the-meter commercial flexibility can support grid operations.
Singapore's VPP Sandbox
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has launched a regulatory sandbox to test Virtual Power Plant frameworks in Singapore. This matters because Singapore's grid is small, isolated, and highly reliable. Any new participation model needs to prove it can deliver flexibility without compromising stability.
The sandbox allows aggregators to pool distributed energy resources, including demand flexibility from commercial buildings, and participate in ancillary services markets. It's the first step toward a market structure where building loads can be dispatched alongside generation.
Why NTU ERI@N
NTU's Energy Research Institute at Nanyang (ERI@N) has been at the forefront of Singapore's energy transition research. Their work spans grid integration, building energy systems, and market design. That's exactly where demand flexibility operates.
Our partnership combines Wattif's commercial building orchestration platform with ERI@N's research capabilities and relationships across Singapore's energy ecosystem. Together, we're preparing pilot deployments that will generate the data and operational evidence the sandbox requires.
Behind-the-Meter Flexibility
Most VPP discussions focus on batteries and solar, assets with dedicated meters and clear output profiles. Behind-the-meter flexibility is different. It's the HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting loads inside commercial buildings that can shift without impacting operations.
This flexibility is invisible to the grid unless you have an orchestration layer that can quantify it, commit to it, and deliver it on demand. That's what we're building: the translation layer that makes commercial building loads dispatchable.
Our work with ERI@N includes developing measurement and verification protocols for commercial demand flexibility, testing dispatch response times and reliability, and contributing to the evidence base for Singapore's VPP market design.
What the Pilots Will Test
The pilot deployments will answer critical questions:
- Response time: How quickly can commercial building loads respond to dispatch signals?
- Reliability: What percentage of committed flexibility actually delivers?
- Persistence: How long can flexibility be sustained without impacting building operations?
- Aggregation: How do individual building responses combine at scale?
These aren't academic questions. They're the parameters that will determine how commercial demand flexibility fits into Singapore's ancillary services markets.
Why This Matters Beyond Singapore
Singapore is a testbed for energy market innovation. Its small size, advanced metering infrastructure, and regulatory willingness to experiment make it an ideal proving ground. What works here becomes a model for markets across Southeast Asia and beyond.
For us, this partnership validates our thesis: commercial building flexibility is a grid resource waiting to be unlocked. The research we're doing with ERI@N will help define how that resource integrates into modern electricity markets.
For Research and Policy Partners
We're actively seeking research collaborations and pilot sites for demand flexibility studies. If your organisation is involved in VPP development, grid services, or building energy research, we'd welcome a conversation: hello@wattif.io