Singapore as a living laboratory for solar energy

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Singapore as a living laboratory for solar energy
By TODAY | Posted: 21 May 2009 1148 hrs


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Solar PV panels atop HDB blocks


SINGAPORE: The Clean Energy Programme Office has awarded the Solar Pioneer Award to the first five private sector projects under the S$20 million Solar Capability Scheme (SCS).

The five are City Developments Limited's Tampines Grande, Lend Lease's 313@Somerset, Robert Bosch's regional headquarters building, Lonza Biologics' manufacturing facility, and Applied Materials' manufacturing facility.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) says the projects were chosen for their innovative design and effectiveness. For instance, combining building materials with solar photo voltaic cells and using solar thermal air-conditioners.

In addition, four public sector projects have been added to the Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding (CERT) programme.

These are Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Changi Airport Budget Terminal, the National Environment Agency's Meteorological Station and the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Altogether, the government has committed S$68 million for solar testbeds, and this includes the Housing Board's solar test-bedding project which aims to fit solar panels in 30 HDB precincts by 2015.

With the latest projects, Singapore's installed base of solar systems will increase from just 200 kilowatts last year to about 5 mega watts. And this will go towards making 80 per cent of buildings here BCA Green Mark certified by 2030 as part of the Blueprint for a Sustainable Singapore.

The EDB says these projects will create opportunities for players in the cleantech industry - such architects, engineers, developers and technology providers - to hone their expertise and track record which can position them for entry into the global energy market.

The cleantech industry is expected to generate 3.4 billion dollars in value-added and create 18,000 jobs by 2015.

The Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO) is Singapore's key inter-agency workgroup responsible for planning and executing strategies to develop Singapore into a global clean energy hub where clean energy products and solutions are developed here for the global market.

- TODAY/ yt

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Govt spending S$68m to test-bed solar projects
By Ryan Huang, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 21 May 2009 2214 hrs


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Solar PV panels

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Govt spending S$68m to test-bed solar projects



SINGAPORE: Singapore has achieved significant progress in its effort to become a "living laboratory" for solar energy.

Nine new solar test-bed projects in the private and public sector were unveiled on Thursday.

This brings the total commitment from the government for such projects, which allow the testing of new technology, to S$68 million.

This will also increase its installed base of solar systems to about 5 megawatts from just 200 kilowatts last year.

Singapore had earlier identified the development of clean technology as a key strategic growth area.

The nine new projects feature innovations such as a solar air-conditioning system which does not require electricity - a first in Singapore.

Another innovation being used in the testbed projects is the integration of solar panels into the building facade, by combining building materials with solar photo voltaic cells.

Another company specifically engineered roof clamps for its solar panels.

These were among the technologies used by the five private sector projects which were chosen by the Economic Development Board for their creative design and effectiveness.

The chosen projects are City Developments Limited's Tampines Grande, Lend Lease's 313@Somerset, Robert Bosch's regional headquarters building, Lonza Biologics's manufacturing facility, and Applied Materials' manufacturing facility.

The EDB says these projects will create opportunities for players in the cleantech industry - such architects, engineers, developers and technology providers - to hone their expertise and track record which can position them for entry into the global energy market.

The EDB said Singapore is making good progress in its efforts to attracting such test-bedding activities.

EDB's deputy managing director Manohar Khiatani said: "Singapore is looking at being the location where companies will find it attractive to carry out these activities here, be it foreign or local....if they can work together to come up with solutions, it really provides a win-win (situation) for both. The end-benefactor will be Singapore. We are positioning Singapore as a living lab."

The clean technology sector is expected to help Singapore generate S$3.4 billion in value-added and create 18,000 jobs by 2015.

The fast-growing sector was estimated to be worth over
US$150 billion globally in 2008, according to research firm New Energy Finance.

There is also potentially plenty of money to be saved.

By adopting green features, a building such as the Tampines Grande is estimated to be able to cut its electricity bills by over half a million dollars annually.

The demand for green technology is expected to grow as it becomes cheaper and more efficient.

- CNA/ir