Developing Renewable Energy and Carbon Abatement Projects in Southeast Asia

September 1, 2009
3:00 pm	to	5:30 pm

Venue: Seminar Room II, ISEAS

Speaker: Mr William I Y Byun, Managing Director, AsiaRenewables Pte Ltd, Singapore

AsiaRenewables Pte Ltd is an energy and infrastructure company focusing on the economic growth opportunities provided by renewable energy, carbon abatement, and industrial infrastructure projects and investments. AsiaRenewables acts as an end-to-end project developer and investor. It has offices in Singapore and Beijing and a project site office in Chennai, reflecting its focus on the Asian emerging markets of China, India and South East Asia.

Mr William Byun will speak on some of the practical challenges and opportunities in developing renewable energy and carbon abatement projects in Asia including:

• some of the political, social, and economic factors in renewable energy development;
• the real role of carbon credit markets in financing renewable energy projects;
• where “borderline” Annex I countries like Korea may be heading in terms of renewable/climate change; and
• some thoughts on where Southeast Asia could position itself for the UN Climate Change Conference in December 2009 in Copenhagen.

For details and registration, visit the ISEAS website.

Source: ISEAS

Possible Environmental Crises Facing Singapore and Appropriate Responses: The Case of the Poh Ern Shih Buddhist Temple

September 8, 2009
10:00 am	to	11:30 am

Venue: ISEAS Seminar Room II

Speaker: Mr Lee Boon Siong, Honorary President and Director, Poh Ern Shih Temple

The Poh Ern Shih Temple (Temple of Thanksgiving), built in 1954, is an ecologically friendly Buddhist temple located at Chwee Chian Hill, off Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore. In 2000, the Directors decided that the temple had to be redesigned to deal with the rising costs of water, electricity and an over-dependence on fossil fuel. It was noted that environmental degradation had been increasing over the decades and that adopting ecologically friendly technologies was the way to go in the age of rising global temperatures and climate change.

This seminar will focus on Poh Ern Shih Temple’s efforts to protect the environment. The temple takes advantage of Singapore’s abundant sunlight to produce: (i) Electricity by employing three different kinds of solar energy cells – Polycrystalline, Monocrystalline and Amorphous Cells (ii) Hotwater from Solar Heat Collector Cells in Solar Panels, and (iii) Night Lighting of its landscaping and common corridors with batteries charged by electricity collected from hybrid sets of wind/solar energy units.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s abundant rainfall has made it possible to (i) Irrigate the temple grounds (ii) Generate electricity via the deployment of Micro Hydrogenerators for charging the batteries of in-house motorized wheelchairs and lighting for its landscaping and common corridors as well as (iii) Conserve, collect and convert the rainwater to drinkable water by deploying Reverse Osmosis Techonology in Portable Filtration/UV Units available overseas in the event of natural disasters.

Finally, the temple is able to leverage on the abundance of a renewable resource, bamboo, (i) to reduce the culling of our valuable forests by deploying bamboo for all the temple’s new furniture wherever possible since it is readily available from neighbouring states and is a 5-year renewable resource as compared to a 100 year old or 300 year old oak or teak tree and (ii) to reduce the pollution from the steel industries, by making all its in-house new wheelchairs from bamboo.

For details and registration, visit the ISEAS website.

Source: ISEAS

4th World Renewable Energy Summit 2009

February 17, 2009

to

February 18, 2009

Recent developments have cast a cloud over the renewable energy business. The capital markets have turned risk-averse, making financing for alternative energy hard to come by. Declining oil prices make it harder for cleaner transport fuels to compete with gasoline. In a slumping economy, governments will be reluctant to pass climate change legislation that will raise gas and electricity rates.

Despite the dark clouds and lack luster sentiment, renewable energy is still seen to be the way of the future as businesses and corporation realize that the world is running out of fossil fuels and it is only a matter of generations when natural resources are completely depleted. Governments and businesses need to be constantly at the forefront of the sectors’ technology and policies in order to capitalize on market opportunities and socio-infrastructure eco-development.

Due to the speed at which the renewable energy market progresses, it is vital that businesses are kept up to date with technical advancements and industry trends. UNI Strategic is proudly organizing a regional conference:

4th World Renewable Energy Summit 2009

Hotel Novotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

17th – 18th February 2009 Read more

Event: Risk Mitigation for Renewable Energy Projects

August 28, 2008

to

August 29, 2008

Venue: Plaza Athenee Bangkok Hotel, 61 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330 Thailand

This workshop discusses risk mitigation issues for renewable energy projects such as:

• Structuring Renewable Energy Projects such as Solar, Wind, Biomass, Small Hydro, Landfill Gas and Waste to Energy
• Managing International Risks, Risk Assessment and Allocation in Renewable Transactions
• Incentives: Feed-in tariffs, Renewable Portfolio Standards, Subsidies and Grants, Tax Credits, Depreciation Schedules, and others
• Carbon-Credits and Trading Markets
• Cash flow Analysis, Debt and Equity Alternatives and Incentives

For more details and registration, visit the workshop website.

Video: A Generational Challenge to Repower America by Al Gore

Al Gore proposes a bold new strategy to repower America:

Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.

This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.

Watch the edited speech below. The full speech and text is available at wecansolveit.org.

Singapore is Not Ready for Renewable Energy

Singapore is not ready for renewable energy. This is the conclusion that we arrived at from the recent roundtable on “Is Singapore Ready for Renewable Energy?” organised by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

We agree with one of the speakers, Mr Stefan Mueller, Asia-Pacific Managing Director of Conergy Renewable Energy Singapore, who said that the two issues of jobs and research, and adoption of renewable energy should be looked at separately.

Singapore has been putting in much effort in attracting renewable energy companies to set up their operations in Singapore and create jobs, and encouraging research and development in renewable energy technologies. There have been several initiatives and funding to support the renewable energy industry ever since the government decided to focus on clean tech two years ago. Read more

Event: Roundtable – Is Singapore Ready for Renewable Energy?

July 16, 2008
2:00 pm	to	4:00 pm

Moderator: Dr Benjamin Sovacool, Research Fellow, Energy Governance Program, Centre on Asia & Globalisation, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Speakers:

• Mr David Tan, Deputy Chief Executive, Energy Market Authority
• Mr Tan Tian Chong, Director, Technology Development Division, Building and Construction Authority
• Mr Edwin Khew, Chairman, Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore
• Mr Stefan Mueller, Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, Conergy Renewable Energy Singapore
• Mr Christophe Inglin, Managing Director, Phoenix Solar

Venue: Seminar Room 3-1, Level 3, Manasseh Meyer, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, 469C Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259772

This roundtable forum discusses whether Singapore is ready for renewable energy amid complex energy challenges, and the role Singapore can play in promoting renewable energy and the required policies. More details and registration at the LKYSPP website.

The “S” Word and more questions

Minister of State S. Iswaran spoke about keeping our energy prices competitive, ensuring energy security, and developing the clean energy sector at Monday’s Committee of Supply Debate by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). The “S” word – Solar and Subsidies, was mentioned in his speech and covered in several newspaper reports. The full speech is available at the MTI website.

In Mr Iswaran’s speech, he explains why the government does not provide subsidies for clean energy and measures such as Feed-in-Tariffs suggested by some NMPs:

Our basic policy tenet is that energy costs should be borne in full by end users. Individuals and industries should adjust their consumption of energy according to its true cost as reflected in its price. We do not subsidise the cost of energy because it will dampen price signals, and create the incentive to over-consume… Our best course of action is to encourage competition and ensure that the market works. Competition will exert downward pressure on prices, and serve to benefit consumers.

As it stands, renewable energies such as solar are still as some members have noted, much more expensive than traditional fossil fuel-based energy. To be consistent with our basic principles, we should not adopt measures which subsidise specific renewable energy types.

… so what we have effectively saying is that we have to subsidise the producers of these renewable energy, for example; solar. This subsidy will in turn be passed on to all consumers of energy so that we can have a solar powered generation. That is not an optimal strategy because what we are effectively doing is that encouraging solar.

The question is why solar when it can be bioenergy, biodiseal and so on. It can be many sources and does not have to be just one, then the question is, why just the energy industry and why do we not subsidise others as well. So, I think we have to be very clear about this and to stick to our principles. When we are allocating our resources, we have our R&D and Test-bedding and this is an area that would largely resonate because this is the key to developing technologies that will bring down the cost of generating alternative energies. We also believe that this approach will give better returns in the long run.

The speech has given us answers and also more questions. 

Although the government is not for subsidies, it is providing $20 million for a Solar Capability Scheme. This fund is to “spur more innovative approaches and capability development, in the architecture, design and system integration of solar panels as part of green buildings. The fund will go towards offsetting part of the installation cost of solar panels for new buildings which attain a certain level of Green Mark standard.” How is this funding different from subsidies?

Is renewable energy expensive or is oil cheap? Is oil cheaper than solar because the oil price does not factor in “contribution to global warming” and other “externalities”? On the issue of subsidies for renewable energy, Authors Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder of the book, The Clean Tech Revolution, think that: “… there is no such thing as subsidy-free energy, and there never has been in the modern world. The history of coal, oil, natural gas, large-scale hydroelectric, and especially nuclear power … makes it clear that all these industries’ growth occurred partly with the direct and indirect financial support of governments that wanted to encourage them. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but don’t ask other energy sources to compete on the same playing field without comparable support.”

Why support solar and not other renewable energy? Because Singapore is a sunny island with sufficient sunlight so solar energy is the most viable here? Because we have the research capabilities, supporting industries and infrastructure?

Why support the energy industry and not others? Because of increasing energy prices, ensuring energy security, and growing concerns about global warming?

The government has been putting in efforts to enhance the clean energy sector in Singapore, including attracting clean energy companies to invest and set up facilities, funding research on clean energy and technologies, promoting the use of cleaner natural gas, etc. But if Singapore aspires to be a clean energy hub, we need to do more. Singapore is highly regarded as a clean water hub because of our Four National Taps strategy and the local adoption of NEWater and desalination technology. If we do not have a Four National Switches strategy or local adoption of solar energy or other renewable energy, how can we claim to be a clean energy hub?

These are all questions we are asking and we hope they can be addressed in the government’s roadmap on sustainable development.

“The Government simply cannot make up their minds … So they go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent … The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” – Winston Churchill

Source: MTI. Image credit: Chance Agrella from freerangestock.com.

Alpha Synovate Pte Ltd

Alpha Synovate is a Singapore company that specializes in producing Biodiesel from recycled feedstock (i.e waste vegetable oil) using our in-house technology that we developed and improved since 2006. In April, we will be launching a “Waste Oil for Fuel” program. Visit us at www.alphasynovate.com for more information about us and latest update.

Address: Technopreneurship Incubation Center, C/o School of Business, ITE College East, 10 Simei Avenue, Singapore 586047

Telephone: +65 6260 2082

Fax: +65 6260 2082

Email: Karen@alphasynovate.com

Website: www.alphasynovate.com

Reflections on Singapore’s efforts in energy and climate change

Sometimes, we are hurt by comments that tell us the truth. We find them unpleasant even if they are spoken for our own good. We often ignore them or try to dispel them. Recently, there are some comments about Singapore’s efforts in energy and climate change:

Today reported the following comments by National University of Singapore Associate Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart in response to whether Singapore could lead on climate change in Southeast Asia:

Prof Hamilton-Hart said while Singapore has “great potential”, the country lacked credibility.

“The target here is to reduce energy intensity, but that’s not the same as reducing emissions,” she said. “To get other countries involved, Singapore needs to show a willingness to commit to bringing down its emissions.”

Today reported comments by Mr Erik Thorsen, president and chief executive officer of Renewable Energy Corporation:

“The (solar) industry will have to take responsibility by lowering prices, with governments supporting with incentives.”

He added: “Singapore has a philosophy of not subsidising or subsidising very little. So, it’s very hard to make use of technologies and programmes that need more incentives to happen.”

Were all countries to share Singapore’s attitude of waiting for technology to become cost-competitive before adopting it, such technology could not have been accomplished, he argued.

The government has reasons for not doing the things mentioned in the comments – It’s the economy, stupid! The government cannot afford to bring down emissions significantly or give subsidies because it will distort the market and increase the business costs for companies and living costs for the people. It’s the typical ‘environment is important but economy comes first’ mindset and reasoning.

We understand the government’s worries for our business and living costs, and appreciate their good efforts to maintain a sustainable environment as described in the National Climate Change Strategy and National Energy Policy Report. But if we were to give the government a report card, it would say, “Has shown improvement but can do better”.

For Singapore to become a global clean energy hub or take the lead in the region on climate change, we have to do better. The comments have some truth in them and it’s time to relook the two issues below:

Using reduction in absolute carbon dioxide emissions as a target instead of carbon intensity

The national target in the National Climate Change Strategy is to reduce carbon intensity to 25% below 1990 levels by 2012. A reduction in carbon intensity (carbon dioxide emissions per dollar of GDP) does not necessary mean a reduction in the amount of carbon emissions. The problem of climate change is one of absolute concentrations of carbon dioxide and each country must reduce its absolute carbon emissions.

Singapore’s per capita emission is one of the highest in Asia and is similar to some developed countries. Most developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol are required to reduce absolute emissions by about 5% below 1990 levels. Likewise, we should set a target of reducing our absolute carbon dioxide emissions.

Work towards a Four National Switches energy portfolio

We diversified our water supplies and have our four national taps: local catchment water, imported water, NEWater and desalinated water. Similarly, we should diversify our energy sources and work towards an energy portfolio of four national switches: fuel oil, natural gas and two other renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, tidal, etc). The intention is not to completely replace fossil fuel but to reduce our dependence on their import.

The cost of alternative renewable energy might be higher now but we should also take into account the future price of oil given the security and climate change concerns. Besides considering the cost of doing something, we should also consider the cost of not doing it.

Source: National Climate Change Strategy; National Energy Policy Report; Today. Image attribution: nic221.

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