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  Straits Times 21 Aug 07
$17m for clean energy research programme
By Erica Tay

Channel NewsAsia 20 Aug 07
Singapore to spend S$17m to develop green technologies

Business Times 21 Aug 07
Govt offers $17m for research on applications of clean energy
Companies invited to submit proposals to develop applications and testbed technologies
By Oh Boon Ping

Today Online 21 Aug 07
Govt commits $17m to cleantech industry
Sheralyn Tay

WHEN you look upon Marina Bay in the next few years — framed by Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Barrage — know that the glittering lights illuminating the iconic waterfront will be powered by the sun.

This novel project will benefit from the new $17-million Clean Energy Research and Testbedding (Cert) Programme, under the first phase which was kicked off yesterday.

In such testbedding projects, photovoltaic cells — solar cells which convert light from the sun to electricity — will be experimented at public places, under a tie-up by the Public Utilities Board, National Parks Board and Singapore Polytechnic (SP).

Residents, too, can enjoy such high-tech applications, as the Housing Development Board will also be testing these out at their first Eco-Precinct@Punggol in Cert's second phase.

And the Building and Construction Authority has proposed to build the first "Zero Energy Building" which uses as little energy as possible and supplements electricity needs through renewable means such as solar or wind power.

Companies involved in clean technologies are encouraged to tap on the Cert Programme fund, which will cover the cost of core equipment, such as solar panels, or approximately 60 per cent of the project cost. Invitations for proposals for the first phase of Cert will be launched from next month.

Cleantech, or technology and services which tackle environmental problems, has evolved into one of the fastest growing segments in the world, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran, at yesterday's launch.

Singapore is poised to leapfrog into an industry slated to grow from US$46 billion ($70 billion) last year to more than US$55 billion this year, he added.

He said: "Significantly, Asia accounted for 36 per cent of the global cleantech R&D spending last year and is expected to continue its lead in this area."

In anticipation of the need for manpower expertise, SP has launched a new clean energy diploma course, which will start next April with an initial batch of 80.

Channel NewsAsia 20 Aug 07
Singapore to spend S$17m to develop green technologies

SINGAPORE : The Singapore government has earmarked S$17 million over the next five years to test and develop solutions for the renewable energy sector.

It announced on Monday that it is seeking technology providers and proposals for three test sites - the Gardens by the Bay, Marina Barrage and Singapore Polytechnic campus. The projects go under the Clean Energy Research and Testbedding, or CERT, programme.

The aim is to train up talent and also create products and services for an emerging industry worth billions of dollars.

Think of it as bankable science projects that are good for Mother Earth and Singapore. This is why the Singapore government is spending money and lending its gardens and buildings to grow the green business.

Ko Kheng Hwa, Managing Director, EDB, says: "What we're providing is a unique opportunity to experiment and test the deployment of clean technology in a tropical environment, in an urban environment.

"The whole idea is firstly to develop the capability in Singapore so that we're able to design, to deploy to implement clean technology here. And with these expertise we can promote the use of clean technology in Singapore. And at the same time, we can develop products and services that we can export to the international market."

The business of providing technology and services that save the environment attracted US$46 billion in research and development investments last year.

The Asia Pacific region accounted for more than one-third of these investments and is expected to stay the lead in the sector. It is estimated that the global market for environmental technologies will grow to some US$700 billion by 2010, or triple the size of the global aerospace industry as more companies worldwide seek to be more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

In Singapore, S$350 million worth of public funding has been committed to grow the sector, which runs the gamut from solar power, fuel cells, wind power to carbon services.

The Clean Energy industry is expected to create S$1.7 billion in value-add and 7,000 jobs by 2015. S Iswaran, Minister of State, Trade and Industry, says: "Singapore is poised to leapfrog into this industry by leveraging on our strong foundation in environmental sustainability, which has been built over the past few decades. We have, out of necessity and in recognition of our constraints, adopted a sustainable approach to development."

EDB says the testing and tweaking of solar panel technologies have the most potential in sunny Singapore.

Beyond the three projects announced on Monday, the government also aims to extend the CERT programme to the construction industry and public housing going forward.

The Clean Energy Research and Testbedding programme is led by a coalition agency that includes the Economic Development Board, National Environment Agency, and IE Singapore. - CNA/ch

Business Times 21 Aug 07
Govt offers $17m for research on applications of clean energy
Companies invited to submit proposals to develop applications and testbed technologies
By Oh Boon Ping

THE government is committing $17 million over the next five years to encourage research on applications of clean technology to the energy sector - part of the overall plan to fuel the development of the local clean energy industry.

The funding is promised to the Clean Energy Research & Testbedding (CERT) Programme - an inter-agency effort that will provide opportunities for firms to develop applications and solutions and testbed their clean energy technologies here, using government buildings and facilities.

The Economic Development Board said each project involves three key partners - R&D organisations, technology providers, and implementers. EDB said the R&D organisations will lead and conduct testbedding activities, while the technology providers are private sector firms that provide the clean energy equipment and technologies to participate in the testbedding.

Government bodies that provide the testbedding location and facilitate the project are the implementers, the EDB said. The lead R&D bodies for the CERT programme are Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and the National University of Singapore, while the National Parks Board's Gardens by the Bay, PUB's Marina Barrage and SP's campus will be the testbedding sites in the first phase of CERT.

The second phase, which starts in January next year, will include the Building and Construction Authority's Zero-Energy Building and the Housing Development Board's Eco-Precinct @ Punggol.

EDB said each new phase of CERT will be announced every four to six months until the CERT funding of $17 million is fully committed. Clean energy firms interested in participating in this programme are required to submit proposals on a competitive basis.

Earlier this year, the National Research Foundation (NRF) identified the field of clean energy, with emphasis on solar technology, as a key growth area in early 2007, as part of the broader Environmental & Water Technologies programme.

A total of $170 million has been dedicated by NRF to develop and build R&D and manpower competencies in clean energy over the next five years. Together with funding from other government agencies, the total public funding available for clean energy is $350 million.

Straits Times 21 Aug 07
$17m for clean energy research programme
By Erica Tay

SINGAPORE'S ambition to be a test-bed centre for clean energy solutions got its first funding injection yesterday.

The Government set aside $17 million over five years for the Clean Energy Research and Testbedding (Cert) programme. Announced by Minister of State for Trade and Industry S.Iswaran, this is the first major initiative of the multi-agency Clean Energy Programme Office to expand the fledgling industry.

Cert involves the trying and testing of solar and other kinds of clean technology in selected public facilities, the first ones being the National Parks Board's Gardens by the Bay, PUB's Marina Barrage and the Singapore Polytechnic campus.

Each project will be 'tripartite' - involving companies which provide the technology, as well as research and development bodies such as Singapore Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore.

The second phase of Cert, starting next year, will see the Building and Construction Authority's Zero-Energy Building and the Housing Board's Eco-Precinct @ Punggol among those using sustainable energy solutions.

Invitations for proposals by clean energy firms to take part in the test-bed initiative will be open in the coming months, starting with the Marina Barrage next month.

Yesterday, Singapore Polytechnic also launched a new diploma course in clean technology, with a targeted intake of 80 students next April.

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