Chen Xin Yi, Today Online 9 Jul 08;
THE Economic Development Board has found its first participant for a programme encouraging building owners to tap energy from the sun — a development that will house Singapore’s largest solar installation to date.
Applied Materials, which makes equipment for the semiconductor and solar power industries, will incorporate solar energy into its new 32,000-sq-m manufacturing facility being built at Changi North Industrial Park.
Upon completion by late next year, the building’s solar panels will produce up to 350 kilowatts of energy.
While that is just below 5 per cent of the building’s total energy consumption needs, it is enough to power almost 90 HDB homes, said Mr Russell Tham, Applied’s general manager for South East Asia.
“Our state-of-the-art campus will showcase our commitment to the environment while bringing enhanced capabilities to our customers throughout Asia,” said Applied’s chief executive Mike Splinter.
Under EDB’s $20-million Solar Capability Scheme unveiled earlier this year, private-sector buildings can claim up to 40 per cent, or up to $1 million, of solar installation costs. EDB expects to see as many as 100 solar projects in the next two years.
Applied is investing up to US$70 million ($96 million) in its Changi facility, which will serve as a manufacturing hub for its semiconductor business in Asia and is expected to contribute up to 40 per cent of global revenue by 2010.
The facility will consolidate Applied’s existing Singapore operations and see its headcount rise to about 700 people.
EDB chairman Lim Siong Guan, who officiated Applied’s groundbreakingceremony, said he hoped Singapore could in future collaborate with Applied ondeveloping solar technology here.
