Business Times - 07 May 2008
$20m plan aims to boost solar tech in new buildings
By CHEN HUIFEN
THE Economic Development Board has launched a $20 million solar capability scheme to help the private sector become more environmentally friendly.
Announced at the Semicon Singapore show yesterday, the scheme aims to encourage companies to install solar technology in new building projects. It is offering financial support of up to 40-50 per cent of the cost of solar solutions, capped at $1 million per project.
'The scheme enlarges the practice field for our solar energy ecosystem,' said EDB managing director Ko Kheng Hwa. 'We believe this will go a long way towards building up critical capabilities among various players, including system integrators, architects, engineers and developers.
'The implementation of capabilities nurtured under the scheme will be exportable, as there is growing demand internationally for eco-friendly developments. These capabilities will also support wider adoption of solar energy in Singapore as its cost continues to fall.'
The scheme is applicable to new private sector building developments that meet Green Mark Gold standard, under a benchmarking system administered by the Building and Construction Authority. Projects at existing buildings may be considered case by case.
The scheme is the latest initiative by the Clean Energy Programme Office (Cepo) led by Mr Ko.
Set up early last year, Cepo is an inter-agency workgroup tasked with coordinating clean energy efforts.
Yesterday, Cepo announced the formation of a clean energy international advisory panel . Chaired by EDB chairman Lim Siong Guan, the panel will advise Singapore on the development of a clean energy industry and help chart R&D direction. Panel members include British parliamentarian Ronald Oxburgh, European Photovoltaic Industry Association president Winfried Hoffmann and Norway's Renewable Energy Corp president and chief executive officer Erik Thorsen.
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.
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