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Speech by Ms Aw Kah Peng, Assistant Managing Director, Industry Development, Singapore Economic Development Board at the Biodiesel Project Testbed launch on Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Mr Cem Peksaglam, President and Managing Director of Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning,
Diversified Energy Mix
1. I am pleased to join you here this morning for the Biodiesel Project Testbed launch. The global energy scene is becoming increasingly complex. Hardly a day passes without news about energy-related issues throughout the world, reflecting the fundamental need for energy to power and sustain economic growth, a rising awareness of climate change issues and ongoing concerns over the geopolitics of oil and gas. There is broad consensus that the energy pie needs to evolve to accommodate a more diversified mix which encompasses non-fossil energy options such as wind, biofuels and solar to complement oil, gas and coal.
Role of non-fossil energy
2. Though conventional fossil energy will remain the dominant component of the global energy mix, renewable energy will increasingly be called upon by a resource-limited world to help mediate the issues related to conventional fossil energy. Singapore wants to be a significant contributor in renewable energy, which is projected by the International Energy Agency to grow at 6.6% CAGR from YR2004 to YR2030.
3. And I am pleased to say that we have made significant progress with the recent slate of project announcements. In October, REC’s committed to establish the world’s largest solar cell and module manufacturing complex. And just last week, Neste Oil announced its decision to establish the world’s largest 2nd generation biofuels facility in Singapore.
R&D and testbed is critical for adoption
4. While renewable energy continues to grow, many technical challenges still remain. One example is the need to increase energy conversion efficiency and reduced cost of manufacturing in order for solar to reach grid-parity. In biofuels, and particularly biodiesel, the need to address performance such as cloud-point and cetane value, is another example.
5. To overcome these challenges, we need continued efforts in innovation and development, supported by a robust environment for testbedding. While companies, universities and research institutes focus on R&D in the various energy verticals, the Singapore government has taken the lead to foster the integration of these R&D efforts to create new energy solutions - solutions aimed at addressing key energy needs in the power, industry, buildings and transport sectors.
6. The recently announced SINERGY Centre embodies this vision, serving as a national testbed infrastructure to help bring new energy solutions towards commercialization
Singapore as a living lab and reference site for energy solutions
7. Beyond SINERGY, it is our aspiration to position Singapore as a living lab and reference site for new energy solutions. Projects such as Gardens by the Bay, Marina Barrage and HDB’s Eco-Precinct will serve as “real world” environments for the testbed and validation of new energy solutions. We welcome the private sector to leverage on these iconic projects as springboards to introduce their solutions to regional markets.
8. Today’s biodiesel testbed project involving 13 modern diesel cars that will traverse Singapore’s city on a 5% biodiesel blend, or “B5”, is yet another outstanding example of Singapore opening itself as a living laboratory. It aims to demonstrate the technical performance and emissions impact of using a biodiesel blend as a transport fuel in climate conditions prevailing in Southeast Asian cities.
9. A unique aspect of this project is evident in the long line of company logos that you see on the screen before you. The varied and distinguished membership of this project consortium range from fuel suppliers, automotive makers, automotive testing service providers and OEMs. It truly is testament to how Singapore provides a special environment to galvanise broad private sector collaboration in innovation and testbed.
Conclusion
10. With such active private sector participation, combined with our initiatives to provide infrastructure and platforms for R&D and testbed, I am confident that Singapore will be well positioned to tap on the growing interest in non-fossil energy solutions and become a compelling reference site for new energy solutions.
11. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the efforts and hard work of all partners in this testbed project, and in particular the leadership role played by Robert Bosch as coordinator. My sincere wishes to all of you for a successful launch and even more successful execution of the Project. Thank you. |
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