Published with support from the Singapore Energy Market Authority (EMA)

A review of SIEW 2011 by Denis Gross

The Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2011 at the end of 2011 saw more than 21,000 delegates from over 60 countries converging to take advantage of the bountiful business development and networking opportunities available, and provided the platform for Singapore to bolster its strong position in the regional cleantech industry. The success of this broad range of B2B events and networking functions - more than seven major conferences and exhibitions across the entire energy spectrum from oil & gas to clean energy, smart grids and energy trading - points to the growing importance of SIEW in the global energy calendar.

Of particular note was the launch of the first PVAP Asia Pacific Expo (PVAP), a conference and exhibition dedicated to the rapidly growing photovoltaic (PV) technology, including manufacturing and applications, which demonstrated Singapore's key role in the Asian PV industry. The establishment of the Asian PV Industry Association (APVIA) in Singapore was also officially announced at SIEW. With the Asian PV industry on course for a more than 30 percent share of global demand by 2015, APVIA is an important regional first. APVIA will bring together Asian industry leaders, research scientists and national solar associations to forge links with policymakers, conduct training and market studies, and formulate strategies for growth.

APVIA named Dr Shi Zhengrong as its first Chairman. Dr Shi is the CEO of Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels (1,800MW of annual production capacity at the end of 2010). By driving the strategic growth of APVIA, one of the main benefits Dr Shi expects to see is the creation of a favourable investment environment to help market expansion and establish a platform that nurtures innovation and technology in the region.

As well as the establishment of APVIA, SIEW also saw a number of company moves that underscore the city-state's role as a solar hub. For example, German solar company Phoenix Solar AG announced that its Singapore subsidiary, Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd, will be the first regional headquarters outside of Germany. Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar PV products, also announced during SIEW the establishment of its Asia-Pacific operating headquarters in the Republic. The new headquarters is expected to provide management functions covering administration, sales, R&D, logistics and purchasing operations to further strengthen Trina Solar's growing presence and customer base in the region.

At the Solar Pioneer Awards Ceremony, held during the PVAP Expo, inter-agency Energy Innovation Programme Office (EIPO), co-led by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Energy Market Authority (EMA), presented the Solar Pioneer awards to a third wave of five private-sector projects. The award recognises solar installations in Singapore that are pioneering in terms of system design, size and installation techniques, and that help to build solar system integration capabilities. The five projects recognised were Keppel DHCS' District Cooling Systems Plant at Changi Business Park; Hyflux's Innovation Centre; GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals' plant; OUB Centre Ltd's One Raffles Place Tower 2; and UOL Group's Upper Pickering Hotel & Office Development.

Another key area to enhance energy efficiency, security and reliability is through the deployment and development of smart grids.  The inaugural Asia Smart Grid (ASG) 2011 conference &  exhibition afforded an opportunity for international smart grid providers and suppliers to network and share knowledge with Asian policymakers, regulators, utilities companies and system integrators. According to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) smart grid roadmap, the development of a smart grid is essential for achieving energy security, economic development and climate change mitigation. Peak demand of energy will grow between 2010 and 2050 in all regions, and the deployment of a smart grid could reduce that increase in demand by 13-24 percent.

With these potential benefits in mind, ASG comprised a two-day conference on the theme of "Insights on Growth Opportunities and Best Practices for the Asian Smart Grid". The opening keynote presentation was delivered by the Managing Director of KEMA's Asia Pacific Operations, Mr Willem Van Putten, and focused on how smart grids are key to building a more efficient, dynamic bridge to the energy future. Participants also enjoyed a facility visit to A*STAR's Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC) on Jurong Island, which was officially opened a few days earlier on 1 November 2011 by Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister's Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry.  The S$38-million, 1-megawatt centre is a major government investment in the development of a smart grid industry in Singapore.

Broadening the focus to clean energies as a whole, the Asian Development Bank said that Asia accounts for US$100 billion of the total US$500 billion in the global clean technology market. Asia's slice of the clean energy pie is expected to surge in the years ahead as the region increases its commitment to sustainable development, in a bid to counter the effects of climate change, fossil fuel depletion, rapid urbanisation and increasing demand for energy. The third Clean Energy Expo Asia (CEEA) attracted over 5,000 attendees and acted as a vital platform for industry players in the technology, services, finance and government sectors of the clean technology industry.  

An additional piece to the puzzle of energy security is the development of a fluid energy trading market. With more than 800 oil traders based in Singapore and a new LNG terminal due to come online in the second quarter of 2013,it is thus not surprising that the first Asian edition of the highly-acclaimed EMART energy conference and exhibition series--which has been running in Europe since 1999--was launched in Singapore. While the energy trading industry is still developing in the region, EMART Asia provides an important venue for traders to gain insights into better risk management, more efficient trading platforms and price forecasting, and reflects the rapid rise of Singapore to becoming the largest OTC energy trading market in the world.  

Singapore is home to nearly 600 financial institutions and many of the major carbon market players already have a presence here, making it the ideal venue for the sixth Carbon Forum Asia (CFA 2011).  Held just a month before Durban, CFA brought together over a 1,000 participants to network and discuss topics currently affecting the carbon and energy industry.  Attendees were treated to discussions on low carbon technology, policies and instruments for climate action, and climate financing and investment.   

Targeted at the oil & gas industry, the second annual Downstream Asia grew significantly this year to host over 470 refining and petrochemical executives. The tremendous growth of the event reflected the growing optimistic outlook of the downstream industry as more projects on petrochemical integration and upgrading come online. Particularly hot areas of debate included margins, new capacity, demand/supply dynamics, and oil prices. Currently the fastest-growing player in the oil & gas industry, Petrobras CEO Jose Gabrielli gave an enlightening presentation that outlined the company's plans to expand into Southeast Asia.  Mr Gabrielli shared that Singapore is an important trading hub for Petrobras and it seeks to further improve relations and increase transactions with Asian companies.

Asian firms also garnered 70 wins at the 2011 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Awards Dinner, which was attended by more than 300 senior energy executives.  The 2011 Platts rankings reflected fiscal 2010 financial performance in four key areas: Asset worth; revenues; profits; and return on invested capital (ROIC).  Fourth place recipient PetroChina Company made the most notable achievement by being the first Asian firm in the Awards' 10-year history to join the Top 5 energy companies in the world. The state-owned Chinese oil company was outperformed by traditional rank leaders ExxonMobil Corporation (US), Chevron Corporation (US) and Gazprom OAO (Russia), which were placed first, second and third, respectively.

With this breadth of energy insights and perspectives shared at SIEW, it is no wonder that attendance for 2011 increased to almost 40 percent, at over 21,000 participants. With a winning formula combining high-level dialogue at the Singapore Energy Lecture and Singapore Energy Summit with business development opportunities at the B2B conferences & exhibitions, there is no doubt that SIEW will continue to be an important platform for energy debate and cooperation.