Singapore sets up an energy policy framework

Aligning local to global standards
Singapore sets up an energy policy framework, with govt agencies roped in to encourage the sustainable use of energy, reports FELDA CHAY
Business Times 17 Nov 09;

NEED some light? Flick the switch. Feel like watching TV? Hit the 'on' button. Energy in Singapore comes so easily that it is hard to remember we do not own a single drop of oil in this country, and that in recent years the world has been facing several challenges on the energy front.

This has prompted Singapore to set up its own energy policy framework, with various government organisations and ministries roped in to study the sustainable use of energy and promote the use of alternative fuels.

One such body is the Standards Council, which formulates the strategies for Singapore's national standardisation programme.

It seeks to align Singapore with international standards in energy use, and make it more competitive through greater transparency in such standards.

With Singapore promoting emerging energy and sustainable development, the council has sought to establish standards and conformance (S&C) infrastructure in these new areas.

Council chairman Edwin Khew shares with The Business Times the importance of establishing standards in the emerging energy sector, and what Singapore has achieved in the area.

Question: What exactly is the emerging energy sector? And how will it help Singaporeans use energy efficiently?

Answer: The emerging energy sector refers to the myriad of alternative energy-related services and products such as bio-gas, bio-diesel and ethanol. Each of these products requires systems and components necessary to support its deployment.

The emerging energy sector will see increasing emphasis on energy conservation, and the institution of energy efficiency policies and initiatives which impact not only businesses but also the man on the street.

Most importantly, the more efficient the use of energy per head of population, the lower the carbon footprint of a community and therefore the lower is its contribution to the effects of climate change.

Q: Why is it important to establish recognised S&C infrastructure with regards to the emerging energy sector, and sustainable development?

A: There are six reasons that I can think of:

1. S&C infrastructure provides the necessary building blocks needed to ensure the quality and reliability of products and services;

2. For emerging areas, it is even more critical as it helps to build national and international confidence in new innovative solutions, be it products, services or technologies that are developed;

3. It provides the fundamentals to define, implement and monitor policy metrics in emerging sectors;

4. It provides the consensus necessary to enable and accelerate the adoption of enhancements and innovation by integrating stakeholder needs;

5. It provides the basis for measuring and quantifying data which can be verified to provide credibility and assurance;

6. It supports public policies.

Q: What benefits does the Standards Council hope to achieve by pushing for such standards? How is it expected to benefit Singapore as a whole?

A: Standards play an important role in setting the benchmark for energy-related products, services, processes and systems to be applied by companies in the energy and its supporting industries and also other products and services. These standards will facilitate market access of their products and services to overseas markets.

Standards also provide the basis for the development of new and innovative clean energy and sustainable energy technologies and solutions that would be acceptable around the world, given the international alignment of standards. This will help grow Singapore into a leading provider of such technologies and solutions.

This should open up huge markets globally for Singapore enterprises as sustainable energy technology and solutions are still nascent and growing in demand regionally and globally. Last but not least, standards also provide a technical basis to support public policies on energy-related matters.

Q: When did Singapore start to realise the importance of, and establish such standards?

A: Singapore has been promoting alternative energy and energy efficiency for more than 10 years under the National Energy Efficiency Committee within the National Environment Agency (NEA). This committee is now known as the National Climate Change Committee (N3C) and chaired by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

NEA has also set up an Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO) to further drive such initiatives in Singapore.

Singapore has been involved in the development of energy related national standards for close to 20 years. The first energy efficiency standard - Singapore Standard on Mechanical Ventilation and Air-Conditioning in Buildings - was introduced in 1980. This standard establishes minimum requirements in design, construction, installation, testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance of mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems. It helps companies to attain acceptable indoor thermal environment in an energy efficient manner with general consideration for the indoor air quality, and maintainability of the equipment.

Q: What sort of standards and conformance measures has been put in place for the local government and industry players when it comes to energy and sustainability?

A: Our various government agencies have been working with industry to enhance the standards and conformance infrastructure. This includes the reduction of our reliance on conventional energy sources by leveraging on solar power and electric vehicles, and the development of green data centres and energy efficiency measures for buildings to reduce energy consumption.

An example of a completed standard is the SS 530:2006 Code of Practice for Energy Efficiency Standard for Building Services and Equipment. This standard provides minimum energy efficiency requirements for new installation and replacements of systems and equipment. It is used by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) as a reference standard in its Building Control Regulations for air-conditioning systems which exceed 30kW cooling capacity and the maximum lighting power budget.

The use of SS 530 can help businesses reduce energy consumption by 10-30 per cent. This translates into significant savings in utilities, which increases cost competitiveness for companies.

Q: How has the adoption of such standards been in general? Do local firms recognise the importance of adopting S&C to develop sustainably?

A: More and more companies around the world are recognising the importance of standards for energy efficiency and sustainable development as it is a global problem, particularly when it affects climate change. This will also be discussed at the Conference of Parties (COP 15) held in Copenhagen in December.

More local companies are adopting standards to fulfil their social responsibility and manage their energy usage to help lower their operational costs. One example is the success of the BCA Green Mark for Buildings Scheme which refers to the SS 530 : 2006 Code of Practice for energy efficiency standard for building services and equipment. There has been a significant increase in the number of building projects receiving the Green Mark Award.

Q: Has the economic crisis been a setback in the setting up of S&C infrastructure here? If yes, how so? If no, why, given that the logical assumption would be for firms to be less inclined to spend?

A: There has been an increase in interest as industry is keen to look into the business opportunities and jobs that energy and environmental issues can bring and standards play an important part to help make this happen in the marketplace.

Demand for standards has in fact increased during this period of economic crisis as enterprises seek to improve their efficiency through standards.