The blueprint will make energy usage more efficient, reduce pollution and expand the nation's green spaces.

In April this year, the Singapore government unveiled a sweeping blueprint to help build a greener, more energy efficient and sustainable nation.

The S$1 billion (US$692 million) green plan which is to be implemented over the next five years, was put forth by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development, chaired by Singapore's National Development Minister, Mah Bow Tan, and the Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.

The committee was set up in January 2008, and over the course of the past year it consulted extensively with various groups of people to come up with a clear national strategy in the context of emerging domestic and global challenges.

The feedback resulted in some aggressive targets, including a 35 per cent improvement in energy efficiency from 2005 levels, as well as a recycling rate of 70 per cent, by 2030. In addressing these targets, Dr Yaacob explained that they were formulated with various stakeholders and he is confident that they can be met.

To grow the clean technology or "cleantech" sector, almost S$700 million (US$470 million) has been set aside for R&D and manpower training. Some S$3.4 billion (US$2.4 billion) is expected to boost Singapore's economic output along with the creation of 18,000 "green collar" jobs by 2015.

Renault-Nissan's test fleet of electronic vehicles is expected to run for three years, between 2010 and 2012 (Image courtesy of Renault-Nissan)

Key Projects Boost Singapore's Status as a Solar Energy Hub

Under the environmental blueprint, S$100 million (US$69 million), which is part of the Green Mark Incentive Scheme by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), will go towards making buildings more energy efficient.

Another key initiative in this area is a pilot project by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), featuring the largest solar test-bed programme in Singapore. Costing S$31 million (US$21 million), the project aims to install solar panels in 30 HDB eco-precincts by 2015.

Providing an added impetus to the government's bid to encourage green and eco-friendly buildings, nine new private and public sector projects here were recently awarded a total of S$37 million (US$26 million) to develop and test-bed their cleantech solutions.

The Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO) awarded the first five private sector projects under the S$20 million (US$14 million) Solar Capability Scheme (SCS) with the Solar Pioneer Award. These projects include: City Developments Limited's Tampines Grande; Lend Lease Retail's 313@Somerset; Robert Bosch's regional headquarters building; Lonza Biologics' manufacturing facility; and Applied Materials' manufacturing facility. CEPO also announced the second wave of public sector projects under its S$17 million (US$12 million) Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding (CERT) programme. These are Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Changi Airport's budget terminal, the National Environment Agency's Meteorological Station and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. With SCS and CERT, the government has committed a total of S$68 million (US$47 million) towards solar test-bedding.

When completed, these projects, together with HDB's solar test-bedding initiative will increase Singapore's cumulative installed base of solar systems from 200kW (in 2008) to 5mW. In addition, these projects will help create ample opportunities for the various players in the Republic's solar ecosystem such as system integrators, architects, engineers and developers, to hone their expertise and build a track record.

The projects are also in line with the Singapore Economic Development Board's (EDB) overall focus on urban solutions and cleantech. Dr Beh Swan Gin, EDB's Managing Director and Executive Director, CEPO, explains, "Singapore aims to be a 'Living Lab' where companies can test-bed and demonstrate innovative urban solutions before scaling up for the rest of the world. We believe the new batch of solar test-bedding projects will help build the critical capabilities of solar players here in preparation for grid parity. Once grid parity arrives, these skill sets will accelerate mass scale adoption in Singapore."

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (second from left in foreground) Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources with Mah Bow Tan, Singapore's Minister for National Development; and Professor S. Jayakumar, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, at the launch of Singapore International Water Week 2009

Groundbreaking Trial of Electronic Vehicles to Commence in 2010

The environmental blueprint also outlines clean transport technology trials as well as a S$43 million (US$30 million) investment to implement cycling networks in selected HDB towns.

In the former, a multi-agency taskforce chaired by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been set up to lead tests and research into the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore from 2010.

The government is investing S$20 million (US$14 million) to support infrastructure development and tests for EVs. This is the first government-funded initiative to help pave the way for EVs on Singapore roads. The programme is expected to run until 2012 and, based on the results gathered, the taskforce will evaluate the scope for the large-scale adoption of EVs in future.

Lawrence Wong, Chief Executive, EMA, says Singapore is well-positioned for the deployment of EVs because of its compact urban environment, robust electrical grid and IT infrastructure. The Republic has been studying the feasibility of introducing EVs here for over ten years now. The trial in Singapore is believed to be the first where EVs are to be subjected to the often taxing, hot and humid conditions.

The EV test-bed offers potential economic benefits for manufacturing and R&D, particularly in the areas of battery technology, power electronics and electric drive systems, which could generate new and high-value investments.

Singapore International Water Week: A Showcase of Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities

On the water industry front, Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) held its second successful run from 22 to 26 June 2009 at Suntec Singapore.

SIWW 2009 saw policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners come together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.

Over 10,000 international visitors attended this year's event which bore the theme, "Sustainable Cities - Infrastructure and Technologies For Water".

SIWW also included the Water Leaders Summit; Water Convention; Water Expo; business forums and the much-anticipated Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize.

The latter, the highlight of SIWW, was awarded to Professor Gatze Lettinga for devising a revolutionary treatment process which enables industrial used water to be purified cost-effectively and produces renewable energy, fertilisers and soil conditioners. By choosing not to patent his invention, he has made his technology universally available.

University-industry Tie-ups Promote R&D and Innovative Solutions

SIWW also saw additional university-industry collaborations, including an agreement between Sembcorp Industries and Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI), to jointly explore the application of a new system for the treatment of complex industrial wastewater. Sembcorp will invest an estimated S$1 million (US$691,800) in the project, which will be supervised by NTU-NEWRI's researchers and Sembcorp's waste experts over the next three years.

A particularly significant development that coincided with the start of SIWW was the launch of the new S$150 million (US$103 million) National University of Singapore's (NUS) and General Electric's (GE) water research centre. The NUS-GE Singapore Water Technology Centre (SWTC) will look into developing practical solutions in safe drinking water systems for rapidly developing regions such as China, India and the Middle East. The centre's research will focus on low energy desalination and explore solar energy and other alternative energy sources to power clean water purification technology.

The 2,700 sq m facility which is housed within NUS's school of engineering, currently has a pool of 37 scientists and engineers. This figure will eventually be expanded to about 100.

In discussing why GE chose to base the centre here, Kevin Cassidy, General Manager (Asia Pacific), GE Water & Process Technologies, said Singapore was "one of the most progressive countries in addressing water issues."

The opening of the new centre is timely. In 2008, the global demand for water reached 313 billion cubic metres - a figure that is expected to surge to 870 billion cubic metres by 2030. GE and NUS are aiming to address this surging demand through the SWTC.

Speaking at the opening of the SWTC, Dr Tony Tan,  Chairman, National Research Foundation, said such university-industry collaborations can result in mutually beneficial partnerships. "They provide access to a variety of skills, knowledge and facilities that a company alone could never accumulate or afford. The universities' researchers see across multiple sectors and can bring together existing technologies in unexplored combinations."

On the other hand, industrial partners understand exactly what their customers want, as well as the need to be "cost-effective, innovative, reliable and entrepreneurial when delivering products and services to the marketplace," he added.

Heiner Markhoff, Chief Executive, GE Water Process & Technologies, explained, "Working in partnership is the only way we can successfully and expeditiously address the most pertinent water challenges, including alleviating the increasing water stress found in many parts of the world...and improving water quality for a variety of purposes. The work done at this centre will be truly life-changing for many."

Toray Industries Inc, a Japanese multinational producer of carbon fibre, also announced that it would invest S$10 million (US$6.9 million) over the next five years in the Toray Water Technology Laboratory, a water treatment research centre. The company will partner NTU, which will also be the home of the new research centre to specialise in membrane-based water treatment technologies.

Toray, the world's largest producer of carbon fibre, aims to be a leading membrane manufacturer by next year. The new water treatment research centre is the company's second in the world outside Japan, and comes after a similar one in Shanghai, China.

Singapore's efforts to position itself as a living lab received a further boost when infrastructure and environment company, CDM, officially launched its Neysadurai Technical Centre for Integrated Water Resources at the Water Expo. Situated at HarbourFront Centre, the R&D facility will serve as a technology showroom, development laboratory, advocacy hub and simulation workshop. CDM has made an initial investment of S$500,000 (US$345,900) in the facility and is set to pump in more money in the near future.

With the pioneering projects in the clean energy sector, the mega-investments and rapid growth of R&D centres, plus, Singapore's efforts in hosting global knowledge-sharing events such as SIWW, and the government's commitment to develop R&D and manpower capabilities, Singapore is well poised to be a leader in this fast-growing sector.