Cleantech Investor

by Denis Gross

Compiled with the support of the Singapore Energy Market Authority: www.ema.gov.sg

Previous issues of Cleantech magazine have made reference to Singapore’s industrial, commercial and academic strengths, factors which provide a strong base for the development of a clean technology industry. Singapore is striving to step up its sustainability efforts while achieving strong economic growth, and has launched initiatives such as the Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP) which supports R&D efforts. CERP is open to both Singapore-based and international R&D organisations, and seeks basic and applied research projects which pursue innovative and novel technologies in the clean energy space. Programmes under way in the areas of fuel cells, wind and marine energy, biomass, energy efficiency and carbon services are expected to employ some 7,000 people and contribute S$1.7 billion (US$1.1 billion) to Singapore’s gross domestic product by 2015.

We have also commented previously on why Singapore’s geography, combined with its robust electricity grid and comprehensive IT infrastructure, make it a highly suitable test-bed for electric vehicles and smart grid technologies. Another aspect of Singapore’s geography is its strategic location in the tropical sunbelt. It is this factor which lies behind Singapore’s major push on solar energy.

The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), Singapore’s first major research centre in solar energy, commenced operations in 2008. It will spearhead Singapore’s drive into solar energy research and play an important role to help address the global challenges of renewable energy and sustainable development.

SERIS was jointly established by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The official inauguration of SERIS’ new premises at the NUS Kent Ridge Campus took place on 19 November 2009, and followed an investment of S$40 million on setting up the laboratory infrastructure and purchasing equipment.

Those familiar with Singapore’s climate may consider the strong focus on solar a little odd, given the high degree of cloud cover throughout the year. The presence of the cloud cover means that diffuse light accounts for between 40% and 60% of the total sunlight received. However, it is important to bear in mind that photovoltaic cells are driven by the amount of light they receive, rather than the heat associated with direct sunlight. Insolation, the measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time, in Singapore is fairly constant throughout the year and around 30–40% greater than in most first world cities. Furthermore, as diffuse light is omnidirectional, solar module orientation is less critical than in other locations, where direct sunlight has to be tracked continually during the day.

Singapore has successfully attracted major renewable energy players to set up operations. The Singapore R&D centre of wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas, will be the company’s largest outside of its home in Denmark. In the solar space, leading Norwegian photovoltaic company Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) is currently constructing the world's largest integrated solar energy production facility in Singapore.

The REC solar plant will be based on multicrystalline technology. Production is expected to commence in the first half of 2010, and reach full capacity of 740MW of wafers, 550MW of cells and 590MW of modules before 2012. REC decided to locate this facility in Singapore after evaluating about 200 possible locations. In June 2008 REC committed to investing almost S$3 billion in the wafer, cell and module plants in Tuas View. This major project is expected to attract a number of solar energy activities to Singapore, from small start-ups to other large companies involved in R&D, manufacturing and innovation.

Phoenix Solar AG, a leading international integrator of photovoltaic systems headquartered in Germany, has had a presence in Singapore since late 2006. The company has an impressive track record of commercial and industrial photovoltaic projects in Singapore, including the solar panels on REC’s roof. Phoenix offers some guidelines to making the most of Singapore’s solar energy: equatorial sunshine is overhead, so roofs receive the most sunshine and are thus generally better for photovoltaic modules than the facades of buildings. The Phoenix range of successful installations across the city highlights the potential key role for solar energy in Singapore.

The Phoenix advice on roof installations notwithstanding, one of the areas of research for SERIS is solar facade technology. The institute is developing multifunctional photovoltaic facades and is undertaking research into ways of using smart windows as a ‘skin’ for buildings, using BIPV (building integrated photovoltaic) techniques to power air conditioning, dehumidification and daylight control systems. Windows are being designed specifically for solar in the tropics with different heat gain coefficients from BIPV windows used in temperate climates. SERIS is globally active, but, given Singapore’s location in the heart of the equatorial sunbelt, it plans to use Singapore as a ‘living laboratory’ to test innovations best suited for the equatorial climate and an urbanised environment.

SERIS is headed by Professor Joachim Luther, former director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, and Professor Armin Aberle, a highly respected academic in the field of photovoltaics who was formerly with the University of New South Wales. Both are professors in the Faculty of Engineering at the National University of Singapore. Professor Luther is a member of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, while Professor Aberle is a member of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. At the outset, SERIS had a technology transfer agreement with the Fraunhofer Institute.

To fulfil its mission to conduct industry-orientated research and development, focusing on materials, components, processes and systems for photovoltaic energy generation and solar and energy efficient buildings, SERIS will focus on the following technologies:

•    Silicon solar cells and modules – wafer and thin film
•    Nano-structured solar cells
•    Photovoltaic module performance analysis
•    Photovoltaic systems technology.

The focus on silicon technologies will be directed by a number of key drivers, including strategic targets set by the Singapore Government for:

•    Higher efficiency of energy conversion
•    Reductions in material consumption
•    The application of cheaper wafers
•    New methods of manufacture
•    Mass production and achieving economies of scale.

SERIS is expanding its cooperation with industrial partners to work on all these areas, short of entering mass production. With the extensive industry-orientated expertise within the institution, the global network with leading R&D institutions, and its state-of-the-art technical infrastructure, SERIS is positioning Singapore as an important hub for solar energy research and development in Asia.

The Institute’s focus on industry collaboration led to the signing of a S$2-million (US$1.4 million) research contract with REC. This contract will allow REC to further enhance the efficiency of its silicon wafer solar cells with future-oriented processing technology and techniques, together with the research support of SERIS.

SERIS’ strong international links have already resulted in the establishment of the first solar module testing and certification centre in SE Asia. VDE-ISE Pte Ltd, established in January 2010, is the result of a partnership between the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) and the Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker, VDE).  Together with SERIS, VDE-ISE provides a one-stop-shop for testing and certification services for solar photovoltaic modules for all technologies. The partnership provides a comprehensive range of services that include active testing of solar modules and module components, lifetime testing, and performance measurements.

In addition to developing technologies with economic potential for Singapore, an important aspect of the work of the institution is the development of trained R&D manpower for the solar energy industry via PhD and Masters programmes. Thus there should be a good supply of fully qualified scientists and engineers to sustain the strong growth expected in this sector.

To further solidify its commitment to developing the solar sector, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Building Construction Authority (BCA) launched the ‘Handbook for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems’.  The Handbook represents an amalgamation of these Authorities’ respective solar manuals into an all-in-one reference guide for those who are keen on installing solar PV systems in Singapore. It was launched by Mr David Tan, Deputy Chief Executive of EMA at the Quality and Standards 2009 conference organised by SPRING Singapore as part of Singapore International Energy Week 2009 (covered in the last issue of Cleantech magazine ).

The project, which saw the involvement of industry partners and stakeholders such as Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd, Grenzone Pte Ltd, SERIS and Singapore Polytechnic, covers and provides information on licensing, market and technical requirements, and building and structural issues related to the implementation of solar PV systems in a building environment. In addition, it provides new information on the installation requirements for solar PV systems, operations and recommended preventative maintenance works, and various incentives to promote solar PV systems in Singapore. It thus provides a comprehensive guide to owners, developers, engineers and architects and all other interested parties.

Singapore’s solar programme has got off to a very impressive start, and we expect to see further examples of international collaboration and to hear of important technological developments from this new Asian solar powerhouse.