It’s too soon to predict a bright future for solar power [News]

By Tilak K. Doshi, For The Straits Times, 14 Sep 2011.

Renewable energy technologies have been receiving much attention in policy circles and the mass media.

High fossil-fuel prices and concerns over global climate change have motivated interest among policymakers and ordinary citizens.

Proponents of renewable energy advocate government support for non-fossil- fuel-based electricity generation.

Won over by promises of energy security and the creation of ‘green’ jobs, many governments have legislated subsidies or other forms of policy support such as feed-in-tariffs (FITs) to compensate producers of renewable energy with guaranteed higher rates. Read more

What drives electric vehicles here? [News]

By Chua Wen Hao and Jonathan Chan, The Business Times, 9 Sep 2011.

Global crude oil prices have risen to record highs over recent months and petrol prices have risen in tandem. Factor in growing concerns over global warming and issues of energy security, and the stage appears set for the electric vehicle (EV) to appear in Singapore.

The benefits of adopting EVs are significant. Maintenance and operating costs of EVs can fall to a third of those of their conventional counterparts, leading to cost savings for customers. On the environmental front, EVs themselves produce no tailpipe emissions, but the gencos (power generation companies) that produce electricity do. Singapore largely relies on natural gas to generate electricity, which is significantly cleaner than gasoline or diesel which are used in conventional vehicles. Read more

Climate Change in Singapore

Speaker: Dr Elspeth Thomson, Senior Fellow, Energy Studies Institute (ESI)

Venue: ISEAS Seminar Room II

According to the fourth assessment report (AR4) of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the effects of climate change have already been observed. Climate change is considered to be one of the most serious threats to sustainable development, with adverse impacts expected on the environment, human health, food security, economic activity, natural resources and physical infrastructure. Scientific findings indicate that precautionary and prompt action is necessary.

Singapore is almost totally reliant on cross-border trade for raw material and food stuffs. W e are also directly affected by the environmental and ecological challenges facing our neighbours. Our small land area and close proximity to neighbouring ASEAN countries makes our economy even more vulnerable to the extremes of climate change and serve to remind us that our environment is tied to the environmental changes of our Southeast Asian neighbours.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) w ith the support of the Government of the United Kingdom recently released a Regional Review of the Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia. Dr Thomson will present highlights from the Singapore contribution to this report.

For more details on the seminar, visit the ISEAS website.

Source: ISEAS

Conference on US Energy Policy and Business Opportunities

Venue: ISEAS Seminar Room, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore 119614

This conference organised by ISEAS and ESI includes several speakers from US companies such as Global Smart Infrastructures, Nextek Power, Houston Advanced Research Centre, Johnson Controls, and The EMerge Alliance. The topics include US energy policies, smart grids, DC systems and building controls. The companies will also introduce new business developments and technology innovations, and meet potential partners and customers.

Download the conference flyer for more info: [Download not found]