Tuas Power fires up green drive for new buildings

Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 8 Oct 08;

TUAS Power has embarked on a green initiative that aims to help new building owners achieve higher environmental standards.

The service, called 'Green Consultancy', was launched yesterday on the first anniversary of the firm's Green Programme, which provides subsidies to encourage clients to hold energy audits.

Tuas Power chief executive Lim Kong Puay said the Green Programme targets owners of existing buildings while the new service is directed at new owners.

It will identify and recommend improvements in buildings, guaranteeing them at least a Green Mark Gold rating. The Green Mark is Singapore's green building rating system. All new buildings are required by law to achieve a basic Green Mark certification. A Gold rating takes the standard up a notch.

Tuas Power will foot up to 80 per cent of the consultancy costs - which can go up to hundreds of thousands of dollars - in the form of rebates in electricity bills. The new scheme, although just launched, has already been tried and tested by its first customer: Japanese insurance group Tokio Marine.

With help from Tuas Power's green-consultancy arm, the redevelopment of Tokio Marine's 18-storey headquarters on McCallum Street in the Central Business District has been awarded a Gold-plus rating from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Tokio Marine's chief executive Hiroshi Saito said the firm expects energy savings of 830,000 kwh and 5,400 cu m of water a year for its 150,000-sq ft premises - an annual bottom-line boost of $170,000.

It will also enjoy energy monitoring and management services from Tuas Power's appointed energy services company, G-Energy Global, to ensure the building's performance is up to scratch.

BCA chief executive John Keung said that Tuas Power's initiative was a move in the 'right direction' as buildings consume huge quantities of energy.

'It's very useful to have a comprehensive design team on board early to take an integrated approach to green building design,' said Mr Keung.

Tuas Power is the only utilities provider to provide such green initiatives so far, said Mr Lim. And it is not new to environment-friendly ventures either.

The company is part of two joint ventures involved in waste recycling and developing tri-generation systems - producing electricity, steam and cooling water - for petrochemical and pharmaceutical firms.

It said last month that it will build Singapore's first clean coal and biomass co-generation plant on Jurong Island for $2 billion.

The firm was acquired earlier this year by China Huaneng, China's largest coal-fuelled power producer.

Mr Lim stressed that although coal has a higher carbon content than other fuel types, the plant compensates by being highly efficient, reducing carbon emissions. In terms of emissions, it is still lower than oil-fired plants, he said.

'I ensure you that Tuas Power embarks on projects in an environmentally responsible manner, that balances the cost competitiveness and security of supply,' Mr Lim said.

Tuas Power's green initiatives stem from an 'integrated approach' philosophy of meeting clients' energy needs beyond being an 'electricity provider', said Mr Lim.

'We want to occupy this energy efficiency space in the energy industry. That way, we will keep relevant.'