Going from green technologies to smarter ones [News]

By The Business Times, 24 Nov 2011.

While greentech and cleantech will remain popular subjects, smart is likely to replace green come 2020, says Kee Wai Fun

In recent history, human activities have significantly added to global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Current carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere are reaching concentrations of 393 parts per million (ppm), the highest it has been in the last 800,000 years.

Unfortunately, most laymen are not able to understand or relate to what 393 ppm means. To explain briefly, most adults will probably remember from science classes that the atmosphere consists of 78 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen, with carbon dioxide contributing 0.03 per cent. However, at 393 ppm, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now closer to 0.04 per cent, which means a 25 per cent increase in overall levels. Read more

A*STAR’s Experimental Power Grid Centre to spur R&D collaborations for future energy and smart grid solutions [Press Releases]

1. Singapore, 1 November 2011. The Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC), one of the largest experimental power grid facilities in the world was officially opened in Singapore, today, by Mr. S. Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry.

2. Located on Jurong Island, EPGC, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research’s (A*STAR’s) centre for energy research is established to support Singapore’s goal toward developing a smart energy economy. The facility will pave the way for cutting-edge research and research collaborations with local and international partners to develop future energy technologies in areas of electrical power networks and energy distribution and renewable energy resources, for eventual commercialisation. Read more

NCCS and NRF Technology Primers explore energy and carbon technologies for Singapore

The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) recently commissioned a series of six Technology Primers, which were presented at the NCCS-NRF Symposium on ‘Energy Resilience for Sustainable Growth’ on 4 Aug.

The Technology Primers bring together research experts in Singapore to explore the potential of various technologies that can help Singapore improve its energy efficiency and security, and reduce its carbon emissions.

Each Technology Primer summarises the state of the technology and its feasibility for Singapore, and also includes current research activities and possible research goals. Read more

Asia Smart Grid 2011 [Event]

Event Title: Asia Smart Grid 2011

Dates: 2 – 4 November 2011

Venue: Suntec Singapore

Website: www.asiasmartgrid.com.sg

Contact Person: Ms. Peggy Phor

Tel: +65 6780 4666

Email: peggy.phor@reedexpo.com.sg

Asia Smart Grid 2011 is the event for international smart grid providers and suppliers to exchange and share knowledge with Asia’s policy makers, regulators, utilities companies and system integrators. It is a key platform for networking, exploring business opportunities and keeping abreast with industry developments. Asia Smart Grid 2011 is part of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2011 organised by the Energy Market Authority of Singapore.

Accenture and ST Electronics Selected to Design and Implement Singapore’s Intelligent Energy System Pilot Project

Singapore, October 27th, 2010 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) Pte Ltd, have been selected by Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) to design and implement Phase 1 of its Intelligent Energy System (IES) pilot project. The IES pilot project is an advanced metering infrastructure and smart grid pilot funded by the Government of Singapore and Singapore Power, a leading energy utility company in Asia Pacific. Read more

Intelligent Energy System Pilot Project Kicks Off In Singapore

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has appointed Accenture Pte Ltd (Accenture) to design and implement an Intelligent Energy System (IES) pilot project. The IES pilot will involve around 4,500 customers in various residential, commercial and industrial locations, including the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) campus, the CleanTech Park at Jalan Bahar and the Punggol Eco-Precinct. This is an important step towards a smarter power grid, which will provide consumers with more information, choice and control over their electricity usage, thereby improving energy efficiency for Singapore as a whole.

2. The IES pilot will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 (2010-2012) will focus on the implementation of the enabling infrastructure for the IES. The key infrastructure components are the advanced metering infrastructure (commonly referred to as “smart meters”) and the communication system. Smart meters are equipped with communications capabilities, and provide both energy providers and consumers with detailed information on how much electricity is being used and fed into the grid. A good communications network is crucial for such information flows to be handled seamlessly. Hence a key emphasis in this first phase of the pilot will be to establish the smart metering communication protocols and standards. This will be done by leveraging on the Next Generation National Broadband Network and other communication platforms. Read more

SMARTricity Asia Congress 2010

Venue: Shanghai, China

Smart grid technology really takes off in Asia in 2010 as a number of governments have launched initiatives to develop the technology and infrastructure needed to upgrade their antiquated electrical grid systems.

However, drivers and roadmaps behind those initiatives are quite diversified. China, India and Russia etc are pursuing a sound, secure and energy-efficient electrical T&D networks to meet the surging electricity demand of tommorrow, while Japan, South Korea and Australia etc are investing in IT and demand side to make electricity networks smarter, greener and customer-centric.

How to align their efforts in line for future cross-boarder cooperation? ?How to differentiate your market entry strategy to fit into each individual market in Asia? How to maximize your ROI while striving to be a trend setter?

SMARTricity Asia Congress is a high-level strategic platform for Asian governments, power generators, operator, utilities and distribution companies to address most critical issues in adopting smart technologies to achieve energy T&D efficiency and reliability in Asia.

Visit the event website for details and registration.

A*STAR Musters a Line-up of Four Industry Players to Develop Future Energy Technologies

Groundbreaking of A*STAR’s Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC) on Jurong Island paves the way for cutting-edge R&D to develop Singapore as a ‘living laboratory’ for smart grid solutions

1. Four companies, namely, Rolls Royce, Vestas, SP PowerGrid and CEI Contract Manufacturing entered into strategic partnerships with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) today to develop smart grid and distributed energy solutions. This was announced at the groundbreaking ceremony of its smart grid research facility of the Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC) by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Ravi Menon, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade & Industry.

2. The technologies and solutions being jointly developed will form the key components to be integrated into the intelligent grid system. Said Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, A*STAR: “Smart grid R&D is critical to transforming Singapore into a smart energy economy and EPGC is an important enabling infrastructure that will bring us a step closer to realising an intelligent national energy grid. With this infrastructure in place, Singapore will be well-positioned to take R&D in energy solutions to the next level.” Read more

SIEW 2009: Clean Energy Expo Asia 2009

The Clean Energy Expo Asia (CEEA) trade fair and conference was held last week, and brought together leading players in the various clean enery sectors, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in developing clean energy technologies and to explore the role of energy efficiency in a viable clean energy future. Around 71 exhibitors, 80 speakers, and 2,000 participants from over 20 countries were at the trade fair and conference. CEEA is jointly organized by the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and Koelnmesse and is part of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW).

Opening Addresses

In his address, Edwin Khew, Chairman of SEAS, shared a new initiative launched by the Asian Development Bank called the Energy For All or E4ALL. This is a partnership between the Bank and the private sector and NGOs, to promote capacity building, clean energy and energy efficiency technology, support, carbon management and project financing through sustainable energy associations in each of the Asia Pacific countries within the E4ALL program.

In his address, David Tan, Deputy Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority (EMA), announced that EMA will launch a call for an Expression of Interest (EOI) on 20 November, to invite companies to submit proposals to design, build and operate an Intelligent Micro-grid with Clean and Renewable Energy Technologies on Pulau Ubin.

There is currently no power grid to supply electricity to the 100 residents in Pulau Ubin and they use their own diesel generators for electricity. EMA intends to develop 5 interconnected micro-grids serving the north, south, east, west and jetty regions of the island in the future. The micro-grids will rely on renewable energy such as solar PV, concentrated solar power, micro-wind turbines, and biofuels.

The implementation project will start with a small-scale, intelligent micro-grid at the jetty area to integrate the different clean energy technologies and ensure the reliability and quality of the electricity supply. The current annual energy consumption at the jetty area is about 460 MWh, and the current loads include the offices of the National Parks Board, the Police Coast Guard Office, the Ubin Lodge, the Singtel mobile base station, and a small number of residential premises and businesses at the jetty area.

Trade Fair

Here are some photos of clean energy technologies taken at the trade fair:

Smart Environments – Monitor, optimise and visualise using intelligent sensors linked to an open platform

Using Daylight

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

Different Solar Panels

Cylindrical Solar Panels

Solar and Wind Powered Streetlights

LED Streetlight

Electric Bicycle