High hopes for Singapore cleantech

As the world moves towards addressing the issues of anthropogenic climate change and fossil fuel depletion, the need for cleaner technologies and solutions is set to accelerate.

Today, over half of the world’s population lives in urban cities. Urbanization has become a global trend of mega proportions that will likely bring with it various challenges and opportunities.

Consequently, countries and cities are actively seeking solutions for their energy, water and environmental management needs.

In urban Singapore we have recently identified the cleantech industry as a strategic economic growth area. ‘Cleantech’ to us includes not only the clean energy sector but also the environment and water sector.

As a demonstration of our commitment to growing cleantech, we have allocated nearly SGD$700million (US$453 million) to develop five key pillars of our blueprint: research and development, manpower capabilities, Singapore-based enterprises, our international industry brand and a vibrant industry ecosystem.

Today, many cleantech companies are taking advantage of Singapore’s location in the heart of Asia and our strong reputation in environmental sustainability. Ultimately, cleantech companies recognize Singapore as a conducive “Living Lab” to test and develop innovative technologies before exporting them to global cities, many of which will share similar challenges as Singapore.

Clean Energy
The vibrant manufacturing sector in Singapore, which includes the electronics, chemicals and precision engineering clusters, provides us a good foundation to develop the clean energy industry. Given our strategic location in the tropical sunbelt, our push for clean energy centers on solar energy.

Besides solar energy, resources are also being channeled towards fuel cells, wind energy, tidal energy, biomass, energy efficiency and carbon services. By 2015, the clean energy sector is expected to create 7,000 jobs and contribute SGD$1.7 billion (USD$1.1 billion) to Singapore’s gross domestic product.

With the emphasis on R&D and innovation as the growth driver, we provide cleantech companies in Singapore a vast range of opportunities to forge strong collaborations with local research and educational institutions.

Our solar R&D capabilities received a boost with the formation of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) to spearhead Singapore’s drive into solar energy research.

Jointly established by the Economic Development Board and the National University of Singapore, SERIS will focus on three areas: silicon-based solar cells, new-generation materials for solar energy and integration of solar technologies into buildings.

SERIS will be headed by Professor Joachim Luther, former director of the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems. One other prominent scientist who joined him at SERIS is Professor Armin Aberle, a highly respected academic in the field of photovoltaics who was formerly with the University of New South Wales.

Singapore has also launched a number of 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 organizations, including institutes of higher learning, research institutes, private sector companies and not-for-profit research laboratories. The program seeks both basic and applied research projects which pursue innovative and novel technologies in the clean energy space.

We have also made good progress in attracting leading industry players such as Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) of Norway and Vestas Wind Systems of Denmark to make strategic investments into the country.

REC’s integrated solar manufacturing complex in Singapore, slated to be the largest in the world, has boost our city’s ambitions to be a key player in the cleantech space. The first phase of REC’s planned investment in Singapore will hire about 1,300 employees and begin operations in early 2010 to produce solar wafers, cells and modules.

When the complex is fully developed, REC could produce up to 1.5 gigawatts of solar products in Singapore for global markets. Vestas, the world’s leading manufacturer of wind turbines, also established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore and is investing up to SGD$500 million (USD$328 million) over the next 10 years to develop its largest wind technology R&D center outside of Denmark.

Environment and Water
Singapore has come a long way since our water rationing days in the 1960s. Over the past 40 years, we have turned our vulnerability into strength by investing in technology to develop water management and treatment capabilities. Drawing on this, Singapore plans to transform itself into a ‘Global Hydrohub’.

The water sector alone should see its value-added contribution to the GDP rise from SGD$0.5 billion (US$0.3 billion) in 2003 to SGD$1.7 billion (USD$1.1 billion) in 2015.Jobs for this sector are expected to double to about 11,000, and will largely comprise professional and skilled positions. Over the next decade, Singapore aims to supply technology and products to 3 percent of the global water market.

The country is already home to big names such as General Electric of the US, Nitto Denko of Japan, Siemens of Germany and Veolia of France.

Singapore has also seen domestic companies become regional leaders. Homegrown champions include Hyflux, which plans to build the world’s largest seawater desalination plant in Algeria and SembCorp Environmental Management, the largest waste management company in Southeast Asia.

The pollution control industry has also gained prominence, particularly in the filtration technology field. Heavyweights such as Pall and Donaldson are based in Singapore.

Over the past two years, a vibrant water research network has also evolved. The Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) was set up by the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The institute serves as a one-stop center for industry and research partners.

The NEWRI eco-system includes the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, headed by renowned membranes expert Professor Anthony Fane. NEWRI also consists of the DHI-NTU Water & Environment Research Centre & Education Hub, set up jointly with Denmark-based consultancy and research organization DHI Water & Environment.

The NUS has also set up the NUS Environment Research Institute (NERI) to bring together environment and water technology expertise from across the university. Along with Singapore’s water agency and Delft Hydraulics, a Netherlands-based research and consultancy firm, NUS has forged the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance (SDWA).

The SDWA will carry out research on aquatic systems, smart sensing, and engineering and technologies related to the urban water cycle. It will also offer Masters and PhD programs in areas such as Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

As an R&D base and a source of proprietary solutions, Singapore is also well equipped to be a global nexus for the sector’s intellectual capital. One such event is the annual Singapore International Water Week. The inaugural meet took place in June 2008 and brought together almost 8,000 policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners to address challenges, showcase technologies and discover opportunities.

Singapore has definitely made progress in both the clean energy and environment and water space. Despite near-term challenges caused by the current financial crisis, Singapore believes the long-term prospects for global cleantech remain bright and are on track to becoming a significant contributor to our economy.

The Singapore EDB looks forward to partnering with companies as we explore new technologies and services that will not only benefit the Asia-Pacific region, but the world.

Chee Kiong Goh is director in the cleantech division of the Singapore Economic Development Board. He is also part of the Clean Energy Programme Office and Environment and Water Industry Development Council – both of which are intergovernment agency groups that seek synergies in growing cleantech sectors.

Contact Chee Kiong at ckgoh@edb.gov.sg or read more at www.sedb.com.

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