All You Need To Know About Government Grants and Subsidies for Businesses Going Green

As Singapore moves forward with Green Plan 2030, going green isn’t just a trend — it’s a business imperative. With rising electricity tariffs and increasing ESG pressures, and stronger government grants  like  Metering Credit Schemes by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG), 2025 is the year for more businesses make the shift to solar.

Among many clean technologies available to help your business go green, solar remains one of the most impactful. It's an investment that keeps generating clean energy and saves thousands on electricity bills every year.

But installing a solar system can involve high upfront costs, and you may be unsure about long-term maintenance. That's where Rent-To-Own (RTO) Solar comes in.

With RTO, you enjoy immediate savings with zero upfront cost. The solar developer company handles the installation and maintenance, and you only pay for the solar electricity you use, typically at up to 30% less than  retail grid prices.

A simple way to see how your business can benefit is to try this free solar assessment tool. In under a minute, you'll get a personalised estimate of your  property's solar potential and  how much you could save with RTO solar.

Government Incentives for Going Green

Singapore, there are 3 main governmental organisations providing funding schemes and incentives to make it easier for companies to go green - the Energy Market Authority (EMA), Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and Economic Development Board (EDB). These schemes mean going green is not just great for the environment, it is also really good for your bank account!

In this article, we have broken down the government grants and support programmes applicable to businesses (both SMEs and MNCs) into three parts: financial incentives for solar, followed by schemes for energy efficiency, and lastly for green buildings.

Financial Incentives for Solar

Metering Credit Schemes by Energy Market Authority (EMA)

Solar net metering allows businesses in Singapore to sell excess solar electricity generated from their solar panels back to the grid. This helps maximise your system's return on investment while supporting the national energy transition.

There are three official metering credit schemes under the Energy Market Authority (EMA):

• Simplified Credit Treatment Scheme (SCT) – for residential properties
• Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme (ECIS) – for most commercial projects under 10 MWac
• Market Participant scheme – for ****large commercial or industrial projects ≥1 MWac

Most businesses will fall under the ECIS scheme. Larger systems may qualify under the MP Scheme, with potential for greater returns depending on energy demand and location.

For a full breakdown of these schemes, see our guide on Solar Metering Credit Schemes in Singapore.

Detailed Breakdown: ECIS vs Market Participant Scheme

Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme (ECIS)

This scheme is suitable for commercial and industrial property owners with solar systems under 10 MWac.

• Businesses are automatically represented by SP Group as the intermediary
• You are paid for your exported electricity at the half-hourly wholesale market price
• Wholesale prices fluctuate throughout the day based on national demand and supply
• No need for complex licensing or direct market registration

Market Participant Scheme (MP Scheme)

For systems with capacity of 1 MWac or more, businesses can register directly with the Energy Market Company (EMC) as a market participant.

• You will be recognised as a generation facility
• Payments are based on nodal energy prices, determined by the injection point and local grid demand
• More complex setup, but potentially higher returns

These net metering options are part of Singapore's open electricity market framework and are designed to make commercial-scale solar more viable especially when paired with Rent-to-Own Solar.

To estimate how much your business could save with solar and metering credits, try our free Solar Calculator.

Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency is one of the most practical ways for businesses to lower operating costs, reduce carbon emissions, and meet sustainability targets. In Singapore, multiple government schemes are available to support this particularly for the manufacturing, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Below are the key incentives still available in 2025.

Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) by NEA

The Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG), administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA), supports local manufacturers in adopting energy-efficient technologies by co-funding equipment upgrades.

EEG (Base Tier)

• Up to 70% funding for SMEs, 30% for non-SMEs
• Capped at S$30,000 per company
• Applies to pre-approved energy-efficient equipment

EEG (Advanced Tier)

• Up to S$350,000, inclusive of Base Tier
• For projects achieving at least 350 tonnes of lifetime carbon abatement
• Equipment does not need to be pre-approved, but must demonstrate significant energy savings

Eligibility:

• Must operate within Singapore's manufacturing sector (SSIC codes 10-32)
• At least 30% local shareholding
• Employ at least one local employee
• Project must not started at the time of application

This is one of the most accessible grants for smaller businesses making incremental upgrades. For full details, visit the NEA Energy Efficiency Grant page.

Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings 2.0 (GMIS-EB 2.0) by BCA

The Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings (GMIS-EB 2.0) supports the retrofitting of private buildings to meet higher BCA Green Mark standards. This includes improvements in lighting, HVAC systems, water usage, and overall building energy performance.

Key Features:

• Funding support of up to S$1.2 million or 50% of qualifying costs, whichever is lower
• Qualifying cost is tied to carbon abatement achieved (measured in tonnes of CO₂ saved)
• Applicable to:
  • Commercial and institutional buildings
  • Light industrial buildings (excluding process-related savings)
  • Residential developments (common areas only)
• Buildings must have a gross area of at least 5,000 sqm

This scheme is ideal for offices, hotels, malls, and other high-usage buildings undergoing major energy upgrades.

Read more on the Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings or our GetSolar guide on GMIS-EB 2.0

Resource Efficiency Grant for Energy (REG(E)) by EDB

The Resource Efficiency Grant for Energy (REG(E)), led by the Economic Development Board (EDB), is tailored for large-scale energy users like manufacturers and data centres.

This grant supports projects that lead to measurable, verifiable reductions in energy use or greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Features:

• Cover up to 50% of qualifying project costs
• Costs can include: equipment, software, consultancy, materials, and IP
• Funding is disbursed upon project completion and validation
• Requires a Measurement & Verification (M&V) process to quantify carbon abatemet
  • M&V plans must be endorsed by a qualified third party
  • Retrofit projects for motors, LED lighting, and air-conditioning do not require M&V

Eligibility:

• Project must be implemented in an industrial facility in Singapore
• Must deliver at least 500 tonnes of CO₂ abatement annually
• Companies must:
  • Be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Own or operate an eligible facility
  • Have a group turnover > S$500 million
  • Be classified under manufacturing or data centre SSIC codes

Access the official REG(E) grant factsheet.

Financial Incentives for Green Buildings

Green building upgrades aren't just about aesthetics, they pay a major role in reducing energy demand, improving sustainability ratings, and future-proofing properties. In Singapore, there are targeted grants available to support enhancements in greenery and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme (SGIS) by NParks

The Skyrise Greenery Incentive (SGIS) by NParks remains active in 2025 and supports the installation of greenery on rooftops and building facades.

Eligible projects can receive funding of up to 50% of the total installation cost for:

• Rooftop gardens
• Vertical greenery (green walls)

Eligibility criteria:

• Project must be physically existing and occupied buildingundergoing Additions & Alterations (A&A) works
• Applicable to non-landed residential properties,commercial,  industrial, and institutional developments (including schools and community buildings, subject to case-by-case approval)
• The applicant must be an owner or tenant, and not receiving other grants fro the same scope of work

This grant is designed to increase urban greenery and support Singapore's City in Nature vision. Learn more about SGIS or apply directly via NParks' official SGIS portal.

Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant (ECCG) by LTA

The Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant (ECCG) by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) encourages early adoption of EV charging infrastructure in private residential estates.

The grant will co-fund 50% of installation costs, capped at S$4,000 per charger, for qualifying installations in non-landed private residences (NLPRs) such as condominiums and private apartments.

What's covered:

• Charger system hardware
• Licensed electrical worker (LEW) fees
• Cabling and installation costs (subject to a cap of S$1,000)

Eligibility criteria:

• Applies only to NLPRs
• Charges must have smart charging functions, which can monitor energy usage and adjust load accordingly
• Available until the initial 3,600 charger quota is reached

This grant supports Singapore's wider push toward a cleaner, smarter transport network, in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Full details available at LTA's ECCG page.

Solar Is Still the Smartest First Step

While some schemes have evolved, Singapore still offers solid support for businesses ready to go green from the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) to Green Mark and net metering incentives.

And with GetSolar's Rent-to-Own (RTO) solar plan, you don't need to wait. We remove the upfront cost barrier so your business can tap into clean energy now with full maintenance, guaranteed savings, and zero capital investment.

Want to see what solar could save your business? Try our free Solar Calculator or chat with us on WhatsApp to get started today.

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