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

Ryan Huang, Channel NewsAsia 21 May 09;

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 said these projects will create opportunities for players in the cleantech industry - such as 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 attract 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

$68m war chest to grow solar industry
SOLAR panels of different shapes and sizes are finding their way onto Singapore's buildings as the nation bids to grow its solar industry.
Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 21 May 09;

The Economic Development Board (EDB) said yesterday that it has handed out $8 million in grants for public and private solar projects which will develop Singapore's expertise in the technology.

The Government will spend a total of $68 million to test-bed solar projects and develop local skills in preparation for mass adoption when the technology becomes cheaper, said EDB managing director Beh Swan Gin.

The EDB-led Clean Energy Programme Office (Cepo) yesterday gave the Solar Pioneer Award under the $20 million Solar Capability Scheme to the first five private-sector projects. The scheme was launched last year.

They are City Developments' office building Tampines Grande, Lend Lease Retail's shopping complex 313@Somerset, Robert Bosch's regional headquarters building, and manufacturing facilities at Lonza Biologics and Applied Materials.

The EDB funds up to 40 per cent of the costs of certain solar projects.

The test-bed projects were chosen based on innovation, design, effectiveness and skills development, said the EDB.

Tampines Grande, for example, raised the bar by being the first private commercial building to use building integrated photovoltaics, or BIPV. This integrates solar panels into the facades of buildings.

It also built Singapore's first solar thermal air-conditioning system, which works by heating up water needed by chillers to produce chilled water.

The building, which won a platinum green building award for its green features, saves an annual 2.7 million kilowatt-hours and reduces carbon emissions by 1,400 tonnes a year.

Cepo also announced a second batch of public-sector projects under its $17 million Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding programme.

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

Separately, the Housing Board is committing $31 million to testing solar panels on its flats.

Altogether, Singapore's installed base of solar systems will increase by 25 times, from 200 kilowatts last year to about 5MW, when all the test-bed projects are up and running.

A new National Solar Data Repository centre was also announced, jointly set up by Singapore Polytechnic and the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore.

Data will be collated and studied to improve the efficiency of solar systems in the tropical climate, said its chief executive, Professor Joachim Luther.

EDB deputy managing director Manohar Khiatani said some firms have expressed interest in being 'solar utilities' where mass solar systems are aggregated and operated to achieve cost savings, although there are no details yet.

The EDB is also in talks to attract more 'key solar players' to further grow Singapore's solar ecosystem of firms, he said.

5 buildings get grants to install solar panels
Jamie Lee, Business Times 22 May 09

FIVE commercial buildings for office, retail and manufacturing use have received grants from a $20 million scheme to install solar panels, the Economic Development Board said yesterday.

It did not reveal the amount disbursed from the fund, saying that it is a small percentage. It noted that firms can receive grants of up to 40 per cent of the cost for solar panels.

Grants to 14 private and public solar projects so far total $8 million. or 21.6 per cent, of $37 million of funds, EDB said. The $37 million combines the $20 million solar capability scheme and $17 million set aside for clean energy research and test-bedding (Cert).

The five private sector projects that have received grants are: City Developments Ltd's Tampines Grande, Lend Lease Retail's 313@Somerset, Robert Bosch's regional headquarters building, Lonza Biologics' manufacturing facility and Applied Materials' manufacturing facility.

By year-end, Applied Materials is set to put up the largest solar installation in Singapore at its operations centre at Changi. The 5.7 sq metre panel to be installed - about the size of a Western king-size bed - can generate 430 megawatt hours (MWh) per annum. This is enough to power 95 four-room HDB flats.

CDL's office building Tampines Grande will incorporate a solar power system to provide air-conditioning to the atrium, the company said. It expects to save 2.7 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year.

Besides the five commercial projects, EDB has given grants to four public sector projects under Cert - Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Changi Airport budget terminal, the National Environment Agency's Meteorological Station and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

With the earlier five public sector projects, Singapore's total installed base of solar power systems stands at 5MWh, up from 200kWh in mid-2008.

Singapore as a living laboratory for solar energy
By TODAY | Channel NewsAsia 21 May 09;

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

A bright future
Esther Ng, Today Online 22 May 09;

GRID parity — when solar power prices cost the same as retail electricity — may still be far away, but Singapore is already positioning itself as a solar test-bedding hub for when that day arrives.

Yesterday, five private sector projects were given the Solar Pioneer Award — under the $20-million Solar Capability Scheme (SCS) — for investing and integrating solar energy solutions in building design and test-bedding.

The awards were given out by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to City Developments Limited’s Tampines Grande, Lend Lease Retail’s 313 at Somerset, Robert Bosch’s regional headquarters building at Bishan, Lonza Biologics’ manufacturing facility at Tuas, and Applied Materials’ manufacturing facility at Upper Changi.

These were chosen for their innovative design and effectiveness. For instance, Tampines Grande combined building materials with solar photo voltaic cells and is the first commercial property in Singapore to use solar thermal panels to power its air-conditioning system. Though not enough togenerate electricity for the entire building, it is enough to cool the atrium and two lobbies.

Four public sector projects have also been added to the existing five in the $17-million Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding (Cert) programme. These are Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Changi Airport Budget Terminal, National Environment Agency’s Meteorological Station and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Out of the $37-million fund from Cert and SCS, $8 million has been given out to 14 projects — nine from Cert and five from SCS. These projects complement the Housing Development Board’s $31-million solar test-bedding project which aims to fit solar panels in 30 HDB precincts by 2015. With these new projects, Singapore’s installed base ofsolar systems will increasefive-fold from 200 kilowattslast year to about 5 megawatts.

The performance and climatic impact data from these test-bed sites will be captured by the newly-launched National Solar Data Repository — jointly set up by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic.

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