A Guide to Clean Energy Initiatives and Funding by the Singapore Government

Singapore has identified the clean energy industry as a key growth area since Mar 2007. The clean energy industry is expected to “contribute S$1.7 billion to the GDP and create 7,000 jobs by 2015“. To support our vision of a Clean Energy Hub, there are several clean energy initiatives and funding by the government as shown in the list below:

1. Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO)
2. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)
3. Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP)
4. Solar Capability Scheme (SCS)
5. Market Development Fund
6. Singapore Initiative in New Energy Technologies (SINERGY) Centre
7. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund (related funding)
8. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment (related funding)

1. Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO)

The Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO) is an inter-agency group and was set up in April 2007 to develop Singapore into a Clean Energy Hub by growing the clean energy industry and enabling the development and export of clean energy solutions. CEPO focuses on three key pillars as shown in the diagram below:

Image source: Clean Energy Factsheet, EDB

CEPO manages two main schemes: the Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT) and the Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP).

2. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)

The Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT) is a $17 million funding initiative for local and foreign companies and organisations to test and implement clean energy technologies at suitable sites. CERT involves three key partners: the R&D organisations, the technology providers, and the implementers. These three partners are involve in the following areas (obtained from the CERT press release):

The R&D organisations will lead and conduct testbedding activities, while the technology providers will be private sector companies providing the Clean Energy equipment and technologies to participate in the testbedding. Government agencies which are providing the testbedding location and facilitating the project are the implementers.

3. Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP)

The Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP) is a $50 million funding initiative for Institutes of Higher Learning, public sector agencies, private companies based in Singapore, and not-for-profit research laboratories, to conduct research and development projects in clean energy. The R&D projects are submitted based on calls for proposals in domains specified by CEPO. Funding support is up to 70% or 100% of approved direct qualifying costs of a project.

4. Solar Capability Scheme (SCS)

Under the Solar Capability Scheme (SCS), the Economic Development Board (EDB) provides funding for new private buildings to install solar technologies. The building must be certified with minimum Green Mark Gold rating by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and the minimum solar system installed should be 10 kWp. The funding provided is between 30% to 40% of the total capital cost and capped at $1 million.

5. Market Development Fund

The Market Development Fund is a $5 million funding initiative by the Energy Market Authority to help in the test-bedding of new electricity generation technologies such as solar, wind, hydrogen and fuel cell, which has significant potential and value in the electricity market.

6. Singapore Initiative in New Energy Technologies (SINERGY) Centre

The Singapore Initiative in New Energy Technologies (SINERGY) Centre by A*STAR provides a platform for the development of clean and sustainable energy technologies and solutions. According to the SINERGY Centre Prospectus:

It will research, develop and demonstrate new and innovative energy technologies both through its in-house activities and projects, and in partnership with collaborators from A*STAR (especially through its Energy Technology R&D Program) as well as other collaborators in academia, government and industry. It will support and provide evaluation, system integration, test-bedding and other services for innovations and technologies from research programs, working with industry and government agencies to support their successful introduction and commercialisation in the marketplace.

7. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund

The Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund is managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and helps Singapore-registered companies to implement innovative environmental projects. The proposed project must have strong innovation and early adoption elements, and help Singapore meet its goal of environmental sustainability. The IES Fund provides funding to cover some of the qualifying cost of the project, up to a maximum of $2 million.

8. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment

The MND Research Fund for the Built Environment is a $50 million funding initiative by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and managed by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). The objective of the fund is:

To encourage and support applied R&D that will raise the quality of life and make Singapore a distinctive global city

Under the MND Research Fund, some key focus areas include sustainable development projects such as integrating solar technologies into building facades. The fund covers 30% to 75% of the qualifying cost of the project, subject to a cap of $2 million.

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