under the sun

What Singapore is doing for solar energy & our potential in fully utilizing solar energy?

Would some one be in charge of citing the sources properly?

Solar energy is renewable, clean and abundant in Singapore.  It can potentially help us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels imports and cut down on our greenhouse gas emissions.  Although solar energy is free, installing such system requires capital investment.  Therefore creative applications and sound engineering are essential to make solar project feasible, cost-effective and lasting.

from: http://www.nea.gov.sg/cms/sei/Courses_PV.html

Singapore To Build World’s Largest Solar Energy Plant

October 28, 2007 9:58 a.m. EST                                          

 Singapore (AHN) – The world’s largest manufacturing plant for making solar energy products will be built in Singapore, it will be the first such plant in Southeast Asia.

 The plant is expected to start production of wafers, cells and modules used to generate solar power by 2010. It will be built by leading Norwegian solar energy firm Renewable Energy Corp (REC) in the Tuas View area with space set aside for supporting industries.

The plant will be able to produce products that can generate up to 1.5 gigawatts (Gw) of energy annually. That is enough to power several million households at any one time.

The current largest plant in the world, also run by REC in Norway, has a capacity of 650 megawatts (Mw).

‘The project will be a ‘queen bee’ to attract a hive of solar activities to Singapore – big companies and young start-ups engaged in research and development, manufacturing and innovation, as well as the supplier ecosystem,’ said Ko Kheng Hwa, managing director of the Economic Development Board (EDB), which signed the deal with REC earlier this week.

About 3,000 jobs, including 2,000 for skilled staff, will be created at the plant.

REC president and chief executive officer Erik Thorsen said Singapore was chosen after nine months of screening involving 200 possible locations.

from: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008974962

 Speech by Assoc Prof Koo Tsai Kee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, at the Launch of the Solar Roof Project Singapore, 24 March 2006, at the German European School

It is my pleasure to be here today to witness the launch of Singapore’s first grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system.  It is an exciting milestone for Singapore in the harnessing of energy capabilities.

Rising Fuel Oil Prices and Growth of Solar Energy

2         Since the dawn of mankind, fossil fuels have been the main source of energy.  Even though the world had made great progress in technology in the last few decades or so, fossil fuels continued to play an integral part in power generation, allowing us to enjoy the many comforts of modern life, such as lighting, air-conditioning and transport.  So much so that we have taken all these for granted now.

3         However, in recent years, high and unstable fuel oil prices have been affecting businesses and creating great uncertainties for economies.  Scientists have linked carbon dioxide, a by-product of fuel combustion, to global warming and a rise in sea levels.  Singapore, being a small island state, is not ignoring these concerns.

4         Singapore has already committed to reduce its carbon intensity, which is the amount of carbon dioxide emission per GDP dollar, by 25% from 1990-levels by the year 2012.  In fact, we had already achieved a 22% reduction in 2004 and are therefore well on track to meet our target.  Singapore’s accession to the Kyoto Protocol this year also heralds a new era for Singapore to play a greater role in mitigating the impact of climate change.

Solar Energy Initiatives in Singapore

5         Is solar energy therefore a solution to the energy problem that the world faces today?  Worldwide, solar energy use has been growing at a phenomenal rate of 29% per annum from 1971 to 2003 [1].  A significant portion of this growth is being driven by countries such as Germany, Japan and the United States.

6          Singapore also recognises the benefits and growth potential of solar energy.  Even though there is a constant presence of significant cloud cover over Singapore, we still enjoy a substantial amount of sunshine throughout the year.  Thus, there is vast potential for us to tap into solar energy, a clean and renewable energy source which can assist in our efforts to reduce our carbon intensity. 

7          Singapore Government agencies and institutions have been stepping up efforts in recent years to promote solar energy use.  Several agencies have been testing or using photovoltaic or PV power for several years.  For example, the Sembawang Town Council implemented a 3 kilowatts-peak (kWp) PV system at a multi-storey car park at Bangkit Road in 2000 to provide power for lighting.  This project was part of the town council’s effort to implement green power and save energy.  There are also other building-integrated PV systems at Changi Naval Base and Biopolis, as well as the demonstration projects on PV technology at the Singapore Polytechnic and the BCA’s Construction Industry Training Institute.

8          Singapore continues to attract pioneering investments in solar energy. Other German companies with solar related businesses have also expressed interest in setting up offices here, and I’m hopeful today’s event will herald more foreign investments in our renewable energy market.

9         To increase the level of knowledge and stimulate interest in solar energy implementation among architectural and engineering professionals here, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has also been conducting training seminars with the assistance of experts from the solar energy industry and tertiary institutions.  I am told that the response to these seminars has been very good and the level of interest has been high.  This shows that more organisations are recognising the technological advances being made in this area as well as the increasing affordability of PV power.

10              Being strategically located in the equatorial sun-belt, there are vast market opportunities in Singapore as the cost of solar-generated electricity narrows the gap with that of conventional electricity.  Singapore’s strengths in terms of our existing strong electronics capabilities and supplier base provide strong leverages for the development of the solar energy industry.  Singapore can also add value through our logistics and system integration capabilities.  Going forward, we intend to look into boosting public and private sector R&D

   German European School Solar Panel Project

11       Germany and Singapore indeed have a good history of cooperation and partnership.  Germany’s support in this solar demonstration project shows its commitment to share its experience and latest technologies, and impart new business models here.  Today also marks the start of the German Expo in Singapore, and I am heartened to witness how these two events have brought our two countries even closer.

12       This project at the German European School demonstrates, for the first time in Singapore, the concept of grid-connection.  By feeding solar power directly into the grid, the energy efficiency of solar power production and delivery is increased while battery storage equipment is eliminated and capital and maintenance costs are reduced.  This, I hope, will lower the overall cost of PV power production and speed up the commercialisation and take-up rate of PV technology. 

13       In addition, this project will help us to assess the feasibility of grid-connected systems in Singapore, the impact on the energy market, the laws governing the use and sale of solar energy, and the positive environmental outcomes it will bring. 

14       I believe this project would also endow German companies here with a first-mover advantage in implementing innovative solar technologies and catalyse the growth of solar energy here.  I am confident that this project will become a beacon of your strong presence in Singapore and impress on everyone, especially our younger generation the benefits of solar energy.  I am sure Principal Boos will agree with me that this is a good thing.

15       Looking ahead, the challenge is to make PV power even more cost competitive and integrate it into our everyday lives.  I strongly encourage our partners from Germany to ride on the momentum built up from this demonstration project, and join us to venture into the development of solar technologies in Singapore and the region.

16       On this note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the event organisers – the German Federal Energy Agency DENA, Sunset Energietechnik and its Singapore subsidiary, Sunseap Enterprises, for their efforts in installing the solar panel system, and for choosing Singapore to host its pilot project in South East Asia.  I wish you every success in the project.

Thank you.

from: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/press.asp?id=CDS3596

 Zhao Chen