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Sunseap Completes One of World’s Largest Offshore Floating Solar Farms in Johor Straits

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Sunseap Group, Singapore’s leading solar energy provider, announced that it has completed the installation of one of the world’s largest floating solar farms on sea water in the Straits of Johor. It is hoped that the successful building of the five MW-peak offshore floating photovoltaic (OFPV) system will lead to more OFPV projects in the region as land-scarce countries tap offshore solar as part of their renewables strategy.

Sunseap said the floating solar farm at Woodlands took close to a year to set up amid movement restrictions during the Covid-19 lockdown. It involved a total of 13,312 panels, 40 inverters and more than 30,000 floats. The installation is expected to produce an estimated 6,022,500 kilo-watt hours (kWh) of energy per year, potentially offsetting an estimated 4,258 tonnes of carbon dioxide, bringing Singapore closer to decarbonisation.

The solar farm is equipped with electrical panels, control systems and a 22kV transformer. It is also a landing point for the subsea cable that transmits the generated power to the national grid. The floating PV system is designed with a robust constant tension mooring system that is able to withstand changing weather conditions, keeping the platform and all of the operational equipment on board steady. There is also an air-conditioned second deck that doubles-up as a visitor centre and viewing gallery.

Mr Frank Phuan, co-founder and CEO of Sunseap Group, said: “We are very pleased to announce the successful completion of Singapore and Sunseap’s first offshore floating photovoltaic system.

“This is an important milestone for Sunseap as we believe that offshore space like the sea, reservoirs, lakes etc., offers exciting opportunities for land-scarce and densely populated cities to tap solar energy. They are places that are unobscured from the sun and with low risks of vandalism or theft.

“We believe that we at Sunseap have honed our experience and expertise in offshore floating PV systems from the completion of this project and are well placed to help our clients access this new frontier for solar energy.”

Sunseap said the Woodlands project was more challenging compared to other land-based or rooftop installations due to the unpredictable nature of open sea, the need to avoid shipping routes and the presence of barnacles. Marine expertise was also required for mooring installation and system design.

Furthermore, the Covid-19 lockdown last year posed an additional challenge as foreign workers hired by Sunseap’s contractor were unable to leave their dormitories. Mr Phuan said: “I am so thankful to many members of our team who rolled up their sleeves to fill in the gap during this period. Their professionalism and esprit de corps were key to the successful completion of the project in the face of the numerous challenges.”

Kimberly-Clark Switches On One of Singapore’s Largest Solar Roofs at Tuas

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Earlier this year, Kimberly-Clark Corporation switched on one of Singapore’s largest solar energy installations at its manufacturing facility in Tuas, which produces Huggies diapers and baby wipes. 7,730 photovoltaic panels mounted on its roof will generate 3.5 Gigawatt hours of clean energy, enough to power up a thousand three-bedroom HDB flats for a year.

With this investment, renewable energy will now replace 15 percent of conventional energy use at the plant, reducing Green House Gas emissions (GHGs) by approximately 1,600 metric tons per year. This is equivalent to removing nearly 350 passenger cars from roads annually.

Kimberly-Clark’s Tuas plant has a long track record of reducing its environmental footprint. In 2016, it launched an in-house wastewater treatment plant that recycles 75 percent of the water used in its wet wipes production. Since 2017, it has partnered with Ngee Ann polytechnic researchers to find utility for material waste generated during its production process, as part of its broader efforts to re-use or recycle 100 percent of its waste.

At a ceremony held to inaugurate its solar roof, Achal Agarwal, President, Kimberly- Clark Asia Pacific, said “Our manufacturing operations in Singapore have long been recognized as a leader in environmental protection. Switching on this solar roof marks a new milestone in our sustainability journey and accelerates our progress towards our goal of achieving a 20 percent reduction in GHG emissions globally, by 2022.”

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, was the guest of honour at the inauguration. He said, “I am glad to see enterprises such as Kimberly-Clark Corporation step up efforts to adopt renewable energy. Sustainable development is not just central to the mitigation of climate change and protection of the environment. When thoughtfully incorporated, it can benefit business operations and reduce costs in the long run.”

The solar roof panels were installed in partnership with Singapore-based solar energy provider Sunseap, which has played an instrumental role in the development of many grid-connected PV systems, pioneering the solar energy movement in Singapore.

“We are pleased to work with Kimberly-Clark in their efforts to go green. As the leading integrated clean energy solutions provider in Singapore, we encourage all companies to look for ways to be environmentally friendly in their business. There are various measures companies can take to reduce their carbon footprint including tapping renewable energy for their operations and going paperless in their day-to-day work,” said Frank Phuan, CEO and Executive Director, Sunseap Group.

Sunseap Group Launches New Subsidiary Called Sunseap Solutions

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Sunseap Group, Singapore’s leading integrated clean energy solutions provider, recently announced the launch of its newest fully-owned subsidiary, Sunseap Solutions Pte Ltd.

The new entity provides integrated efficient energy solutions through energy audits, Green Mark consultancy and energy performance contracting. Sunseap Solutions’ energy performance contracting focuses on LED lighting retrofits.

This will eventually expand to include other forms of M&E equipment (e.g. chiller plants, pumps and lifts). Under the energy performance contracting scheme, lighting retrofits will be fully financed by the Sunseap Group and clients will co-share the energy savings. The equipment will be maintained and warrantied by Sunseap Solutions during the contract period.

Sunseap Solutions also offers the full range of Optigreen green roof solutions and components. The launch of the new business unit is part of Sunseap Group’s plan to provide all-rounded sustainable solutions for its clients. The Group’s other entities are Sunseap Leasing, which provides rooftop solar solutions to the masses, Sunseap International, which is responsible for the group’s regional activities outside of Singapore, and Sunseap Energy, Singapore’s largest clean energy retailer.

Mr Laurence Kwan, Director of Sunseap Energy, said: “We are excited that the Sunseap Group is about to embark on the next phase of its development with the formation of Sunseap Solutions. We are now able to provide the full spectrum of green solutions to our clients with the convenience of a single point of contact.

“This is in line with the Group’s vision of providing affordable sustainable solutions to the masses and is an important step to decarbonising.”

To date, Sunseap has more than 160 megawatts (MWp) of contracted solar project capacity in Singapore, which has been deployed or is in the course of being deployed. Some of its clients include Apple, Housing Development Board, Singapore American School, Raffles Institution, the United Technologies Group and ABB.

Regionally, it is also one of the largest and most established players in the solar energy industry. It has a pipeline of projects in Cambodia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia, including a 168 MWp solar farm in Vietnam, the largest in the country, a 62 MWp utility scale farm in the Philippines and a 10 MWp utility scale farm in Cambodia.

Singapore Solar Developer Sunseap Donates Solar Array To Green School Bali

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Green School Bali students and friends are one step closer to getting their campus off the grid, with the support of Sunseap, one of the largest clean energy solutions providers in Singapore.

Sunseap, a Singapore-based solar developer, generously donated PV solar panels that will power one of the world’s greenest maker spaces: The Green School Community Innovation Hub. The “iHub” is a green, rapid prototyping facility that is changing the face of education, and is where inspiring entrepreneurial problem solving, student ideas are incubated, tested, rethought, refined, and finally brought to life, under the guidance of the community, visiting entrepreneurs, local artisans and teachers.

Mr. Rob Khoo, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Sunseap Group, said: “Sunseap is delighted to support Green School Bali in its efforts to go green. This donation is part of Sunseap’s corporate social responsibility initiative to help people in the region become more aware of the impact of their daily activities on the environment and how they can switch to renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Sunseap’s donation puts the power into the hands of young people to be the change makers they want to be. This project represents the entrepreneurial mind-set and collaborative problem solving that are the hallmarks of both Green School and Sunseap.

In combination with micro-hydro turbine on the banks of the local river, this gift of solar panels will expand an existing solar array on campus, adding another exciting element to the student-driven energy sustainability project “Operation Rain or Shine”. The ultimate goal of Operation Rain or Shine is to become a model of renewable energy production and storage for the school and local community—a showcase of resilient and reliable clean energy. The hybrid renewable energy micro-grid will now be expanded through the generous support of Sunseap.

REC invests S$200 million to automate and upgrade technology over the next three years

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Minister Iswaran on a tour of REC’s global HQ and manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore.

Minister Iswaran on a tour of REC’s global HQ and manufacturing facility in Tuas, Singapore.

As escalating climate change remains the biggest challenge today and the nascent renewable energy sector picks up speed, REC, a global provider of solar energy solutions, has announced a total investment of S$ 250 million in automation, technology upgrade and research and development (R&D) efforts to unleash the full potential of solar as a source of renewable energy.

At its manufacturing facility in Tuas and in the presence of Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), S Iswaran, this morning, REC unveiled plans to invest S$200 million in Singapore that will further increase its productivity and efficiency through automation and technology upgrading.

This will fully convert all 1.3 GW of REC’s solar modules capacity in Singapore to TwinPeak production. These panels yield the highest energy efficiencies as compared to any other multi-crystalline panels that are mass-produced today. Committed to its vision that every person benefits from electricity generated directly from the sun, REC’s move to expand its capacity and technology with sustainable, reliable and high performing products is closely aligned with the Singapore government’s plans to grow the cleantech sector.

The Singapore government has recently announced about S$900 million of R&D budget in Urban Solutions and Sustainability, one of four key technology domains to be funded under the national Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan. This RIE initiative, amounting to S$19 billion, maps out the focus for Singapore’s R&D efforts for the next five years.

Said Steve O’Neil, CEO, REC, “With such a strong commitment to cleantech innovation, Singapore is the ideal location for REC to channel new innovations and push the boundaries for solar solutions. We are very excited to share our roadmap for advancements in solar energy production as we dedicate resources for research and development into our game-changing TwinPeak solar panels.”

Minister Iswaran speaking with a REC employee.

Minister Iswaran speaking with a REC employee.

Lauded for its high performance, the high power 120-cell module, Twin Peak, was launched by REC last year. Developed based on Passivated Emitter Rear Cell (PERC) technology and half-cut cells, TwinPeak solar panels convert more sunlight into electricity as compared to standard modules, effectively allowing customers to derive the most energy and value out of their installations.

For commercial, industrial and residential entities in Singapore, this is of extreme importance, given the limited rooftop space. Putting it into context, REC’s recent 2.2MW TwinPeak installation in Singapore is able to generate an additional 157MWh of clean energy annually as compared to standard panels.

The additional clean energy produced by TwinPeak panels can power up to 38 HDB 5-room flats yearly or the equivalent of 1,088 light bulbs. Similarly, it is also able to mitigate an additional 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – the amount that takes the planting of 3,200 new trees to offset.

REC also announced today, an investment of S$50 million in the development of a novel solar panel with 350 watt power, over the next five years. In partnership with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore’s flagship solar energy laboratory, this technological breakthrough will generate 1.35 times more energy, at a comparable cost and size to standard multi-crystalline modules.

Said Prof. Armin Aberle, CEO, SERIS, “Collaborations between university institutes and industry are very beneficial for growing the solar sector, especially when it comes to developing and commercialising new technologies. With REC on board to further the green agenda in Singapore and the region, we believe this will stimulate other companies to follow suit and enhance their R&D investments to address the issues of climate change and dwindling resources.”

The Minister visited the Cells and Modules production.

The Minister visited the Cells and Modules production.

Added O’Neil, “REC constantly strengthens its position as a leader in terms of solar panel reliability, performance and cost. With SERIS’ support, we’re in a good position to ride on market opportunities where growth prospects remain positive.”

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was also signed between REC and SERIS.

“We warmly welcome REC’s S$200 million solar manufacturing expansion, which will further strengthen Singapore’s cleantech industry ecosystem. The investment is testament to the competitiveness of Singapore’s advanced manufacturing sector in terms of engineering talent, automation expertise and supplier base,” said Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). “REC’s S$50 million R&D collaboration with SERIS will accelerate the commercialisation of innovative solar technologies in Singapore,” he added.

APB paves way for clean energy adoption in Singapore

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Leading the charge for sustainable business practices here, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) and Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) have announced recently, a landmark partnership that will see the home-grown brewery make the leap towards solar energy.

In a pioneering Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) inked with REC, the leading global provider of solar energy solutions, clean energy will be provided for APBS’ facilities. This agreement will see REC’s award-winning, high-performance TwinPeak panels mounted across three rooftops at APBS, making it the largest rooftop solar installation for HEINEKEN globally. APBS is a HEINEKEN operating company.

At 2.196 megawatt peak (MWp), this solar installation is approximately four times the size of typical. This collaboration represents HEINEKEN’s first solar installation project in the Asia Pacific region and also its largest rooftop installation worldwide. It is also one of REC’s biggest carbon-saving initiatives to date.

Scheduled to run for the next 25 years, this PPA will see APBS generate approximately 2.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy annually, enough power to meet the annual power consumption of 600 four-room HDB households here. Generated through 8,038 REC solar panels that are made in Singapore and spanning an area equivalent to three FIFA football fields in size, the resulting renewable energy helps APBS mitigate 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, reducing its carbon footprint by approximately 20 percent.

As a socially-responsible business, reducing carbon emissions, protecting water resources and advocating the responsible consumption of alcohol form key pillars that drive APBS’ corporate sustainability strategy towards Brewing a Better World – its long term approach to create shared and sustainable value for its stakeholders and community that it operates in.

“At APBS, sustainability is very much a business imperative. This launch is a milestone in our journey towards Brewing a Better World, and through our PPA with REC, places us at the forefront of for the future adoption of clean energy initiatives within the various commercial industries,” said Kenneth Choo, Managing Director, HEINEKEN Asia Pacific.

A ‘Brewed by the Sun’ icon (left) will be introduced to Tiger Beer’s packaging in due time.

A ‘Brewed by the Sun’ icon (left) will be introduced to Tiger Beer’s packaging in due time.

Set at the home of the iconic Tiger Beer, this initiative will also mean that every Tiger Beer consumed in Singapore will be ‘Brewed by the ‘Sun’. A ‘Brewed by the Sun’ icon (left) will be introduced to Tiger Beer’s packaging in due time. The renewable energy generated through this initiative dovetails APBS’ sustainability efforts with our nation’s newly outlined environmental targets announced in July, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference set for end November.

“The PPA model will change the way businesses view renewable energy. Through this model, REC absorbs the investment and maintenance costs of installing solar systems on rooftops. Building owners need only pay for the consumed solar energy generated from their roofs at an agreed rate, which is fixed for the next 25 years,” said Steve O’Neil, Chief Executive Officer, REC.