Channel NewsAsia 12 Jul 10;
SINGAPORE: 3,000 residential units will have solar panels installed in their precincts by year end.
The precincts include Jurong, Aljunied, Telok Blangah, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Jalan Besar.
This initiative comes under phase two of HDB's solar capability building programme.
Under it, the HDB made its single largest purchase of solar panels to date by buying them from Renewable Energy Corporation at about $2.3 million.
The decision follows a drop in the price of solar technology.
Since 2008, the price of Solar PV modules has dropped by up to 55 per cent, from $5.17/Watts-peak down to $2.33/Wp.
Working with American consultancy Camp, Dresser & McKee, HDB will also embark on a study in Punggol.
The study aims to develop a set of Key Performance Indicators in the areas of water, energy and waste reduction.
An Urban Systems Model, which supports planning decisions by simulating performance against sustainability objectives will also be developed.
The results are intended to help HDB's overall planning process.
Tay Kim Poh, CEO, HDB, says: "When we are able to put in place the renewable energy in the form of solar panels it will help to reduce energy consumption within the HDB estates.
The solar energy will help to offset the energy consumption in the common areas - and that will save money for the town councils which will eventually translate into savings for the residents as well."
- CNA/ir/jm
HDB makes $2.3m solar panel purchase
To be mounted on 30 blocks in Q4, panels save $40,000 per year per precinct
Melissa Tan, Business Times 13 Jul 10;
THE Housing Development Board (HDB) yesterday announced a $2.3 million purchase of 4,348 solar panels from Norwegian energy firm Renewable Energy Corporation. This is the largest solar panel procurement in Singapore to date.
These new solar panels, to be produced at REC's plant in Tuas, will be installed in Q4 this year in six precincts across Singapore: Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Aljunied, Jalan Besar, Telok Blangah and Jurong. The installation will cover about 3,000 residential units, or about 30 HDB slab blocks.
The total energy-producing capacity of these panels is nearly 1MWp (megawatt peak). A watt peak is a measure of power output commonly used in relation to photovoltaic solar energy devices.
According to HDB, one block's solar panels can generate enough energy from one day's sunlight to power all of its common area services - like corridor lighting and lifts - for that entire day. These consume around 600 kWh each month on average. The excess energy goes back into the power grid. 'That will save money for the town councils, which will eventually translate to savings for the residents as well,' said HDB chief executive Tay Kim Poh.
In total, the solar panels are expected to produce 170 MWh of energy each year - 'a total savings of about $40,000 per year per precinct', according to a HDB spokesman.
The planned installation is part of HDB's Solar Capability Building Program, which is fully funded by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development. The committee has set aside $31 million for HDB to install solar panels in 30 precincts over the next five years.
HDB's pilot solar panel installation was in Serangoon and Wellington in December 2008, and since then the price of solar panels has dropped by more than half from $5.17 per Wp to $2.33 per Wp. It is currently in the process of installing solar panels in Tampines, Bukit Panjang, Marine Parade and Tanjong Pagar.
HDB will also collaborate with American environmental engineering firm Camp Dresser & McKee to study the development of Punggol Town as 'Singapore's first eco-town', Mr Tay said.
HDB blocks to harness power from the sun
Solar panels will help power common-area services for 3,000 flats
Esther Teo Straits Times 13 Jul 10;
SOLAR panels will be installed at 30 HDB blocks in six precincts across the island, in a $2.3 million initiative announced yesterday.
The roof panels will be able to power all common-area services, such as lighting, lifts and pumps.
The green initiative will allow the precincts - Jurong, Aljunied, Telok Blangah, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Jalan Besar - to each save about $40,000 a year, the HDB said yesterday.
Installation of the panels - they will cover a total area 1.5 times the size of a football field and serve about 3,000 flats - is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
Each block will have about 150 of the panels, which measure 1.8m by 1m and should last for 20 years or more.
Housing Board chief executive Tay Kim Poh said that as the largest developer in Singapore, HDB could play a leading role in supporting efforts towards sustainable development.
'We see a lot of potential in developing clean, renewable energy; and particularly solar energy, given our extensive coverage of HDB blocks all over Singapore,' he added.
Solar panels were installed in Serangoon North and Wellington Circle in pilot projects in 2008.
But since then, the price of producing solar energy has dropped by more than half, said Mr Tay, making it the right time to carry out more testbedding projects.
However, residents should not expect lower service and conservancy charges, as the HDB says that any savings will be used to defer rising energy costs.
Norwegian company Renewable Energy Corporation was awarded the contract in an open tender, and will produce the panels in its Tuas plant.
The initiative announced yesterday marks the second phase of the Solar Capability Building Programme, which was first approved by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development in April last year.
Under the programme, 30 HDB precincts will be funded with $31 million over five years for solar panel installation.
The expertise developed could eventually be exported to other tropical countries, the HDB said.
The first phase of the installation was carried out in Tampines, Bukit Panjang, Marine Parade and the Tanjong Pagar in January.
That has achieved net zero energy usage for common services.
Mr Tay said these installations had helped the HDB better understand how to install and maintain the panels.
The HDB also announced a collaboration with engineering consultancy Camp Dresser and McKee yesterday.
They will develop a modelling tool to come up with indicators that can measure performance in areas such as water and waste reduction on sustainability environmental targets in Punggol.
Research and development will be carried out to further enhance Punggol's potential as an eco-town for the tropics.
'The short-term benefits reaped from the Punggol project will help to achieve long-term results in... future planning and design processes,' the HDB said.
Test runs for solar panels to be carried out in six more HDB precincts
Surekha Ahgir Yadav Today Online 13 Jul 10;
The long-term goal of making solar power a part of sustainable public housing across the island here has reached its next milestone - with the Housing and Development Board's largest single purchase of solar panels.
The HDB announced yesterday it has purchased $2.3-million-worth of solar photovoltaic panels from Norwegian firm Renewable Energy Corporation.
Some 3,000 homes will have solar panels installed by year-end.
The panels will be installed in six precincts across the island. Jurong, Aljunied and Bishan, Ang Mo Kio Jalan Besar and Telok Blangah were selected for their geographic spread and the ability to collect varied data.
This initiative comes under the second phase of HDB's solar capability building programme, and will extend the presence of solar energy testing from the four existing towns of Tampines, Bukit Panjang, Marine Parade and Tanjong Pagar.
HDB CEO Tay Kim Poh said the future expansion of such solar panels across Singapore will depend on the results of these tests and on the cost. This purchase decision follows a drop in the price of solar technology.
The solar panels will generate sufficient energy to power all the common areas in a residential block - such as corridor lighting, lifts and pumps. It is estimated the total savings would be about $40,000 per year per precinct.
Mr Tay said using solar energy will help to offset energy consumption in the common areas and that will save money for the town councils, which will eventually translate to savings for the residents as well.
