SPEECH BY GUEST-OF-HONOUR, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION, MS LOW YEN LING, AT THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF APB SINGAPORE SOLAR INSTALLATION PROJECT, ON THURSDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2015, 10.30 AM, ASIA PACIFIC BREWERIES SINGAPORE

His Excellency, Mr Jacques Werner, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Singapore,

Mr Frans Eusman, President, HEINEKEN Asia Pacific,

Mr Steve O’Neil, CEO, Renewable Energy Corporation (REC),

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1          A very good morning.  It gives me great pleasure to join Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore and REC today for the landmark unveiling of one of Singapore’s largest corporate solar installation projects.

Renewable Energy will become even more important in a carbon-constrained world

2          In July this year, Singapore submitted our Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), or pledge, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat.  The pledge states our intention to reduce our Emissions Intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030, and to stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030.  This reflects Singapore’s support and contribution to global efforts to address climate change.

3          Globally, renewable energy is viewed as a key solution to mitigating climate change, reducing pollution, and enhancing energy security.  In particular, solar energy has become a mainstream source of energy, underpinned by its increasing cost competitiveness due to economies of scale, improvements in technology and scaling up of financing.  For Singapore, solar photovoltaics (PV) is currently the most technically and economically viable renewable energy technology.

The Government has taken the lead to facilitate wider deployment of solar PV

4          Recognising the benefits of solar energy, the government has been proactive in facilitating the deployment of solar PV.  In 2007, we established the Clean Energy Programme Office and dedicated an initial $170 million to Research & Development (R&D) in this space. 

5          This led to the establishment of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (or SERIS), which is the national institute for applied solar energy research.  SERIS specialises in R&D in the areas of crystalline silicon PV and PV systems. It is also a key player in Singapore’s solar journey.  For instance, through its close partnership with the industry, SERIS has enhanced Singapore’s attractiveness to clean energy investments.  SERIS has collaborated extensively with REC to improve cell and module efficiencies.  Its technical expertise not only facilitates solar adoption in Singapore, it also advises facilities on their PV capacity, the effects of shading, as well as installation timelines and safety requirements. 

6          To accelerate the deployment of solar PV, EDB and HDB are leading the SolarNova programme which promotes and aggregates solar demand across government agencies.  SolarNova also aims to catalyse private sector adoption of solar energy as various players in the ecosystem, such as engineering contractors, project developers and financial institutions, become more familiar with solar projects.

7          To further support private sector efforts, the government also provides competitive grants to encourage collaboration between the public and private sector in research of clean energy. It has implemented several test-beds to study the performance of solar systems in different settings and configurations.

The private sector will need to partner with the government to further ramp-up the use of solar PV

8          It is therefore heartening to see the home of Tiger Beer, one of the world’s leading contemporary beer brands and a Singapore icon, adopting solar energy in its facilities.  We hope that this will pave the way for other businesses to follow suit.

9          The solar installation we see here today is a result of a partnership between APB Singapore and REC, a leading solar panel manufacturer with its global headquarters, R&D centre and integrated manufacturing facilities in Singapore.  Following today’s unveiling, more than 8,000 solar panels manufactured by REC in Singapore will generate 2.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy annually.

10        This is enough to meet the annual power consumption of 600 four-room HDB households.  I am told that through this installation, APB Singapore is on track to mitigate 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, and every can of Tiger Beer brewed and consumed in Singapore will be powered by solar energy.

11        This strategic partnership between APB Singapore and REC also demonstrates the innovative ways in which businesses can integrate clean energy into their processes, complementing our push for a more sophisticated energy industry. The way APB Singapore and REC has done it is through an innovative Power Purchase Agreement. This solar leasing business model allows building owners, such as APB Singapore, to pay for the electricity generated from solar systems rather than for the system itself.  This model thus lowers the initial investment costs and barriers to adoption, and provides businesses with greater impetus to harness developments in solar energy.

12        Singapore has entered a new and exciting phase of our journey in solar energy through this milestone APB-REC collaboration. This is an example of the range of opportunities that are available to companies embracing sustainability, as well as for those in the clean energy industry.  

Conclusion

13        I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate APB Singapore and REC for their joint efforts.  I also look forward to seeing more businesses take up the challenge in our quest for a cleaner, more sustainable Singapore.

14        Thank you. 

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