Tuesday, February 26, 2008
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE 1Here is a newspaper article from Straits Time on the issue of solar energy in Singapore. We will be discussing the article in our next post.
Solar energy the powerful alternative for Singapore
Section: World
By: TANIA TAN
Publication: The Straits Times 20/04/2007
Page: 21
No. of words: 494
Dutch expert says harnessing solar power will get cheaper for countries near the Equator
BY TANIA TAN
In Petten (The Netherlands)BY 2010, harnessing solar energy may cost no more than burning oil to produce electricity.
This is the reckoning of Dutch solar energy expert Dr G.P. Wyers for the sun-drenched countries near the Equator.
And with Singapore right on the sunbelt, it is an assessment that rubs the right way with National Research Foundation chairman Tony Tan.
Solar energy is one of four forms of "clean" energy – wind, hydro and nuclear energy being the other three. The word "clean" is used because generating power from these sources does not create polluting by-products.
Harnessing the power of the sun will be the focus of Singapore's push for clean energy, already identified by the Research Enterprise Innovation Council here as a key pillar of the country's future economy.
Some 7,000 jobs and $1.7 billion are expected to be added to Singapore's gross domestic product by the clean-energy sector by 2015.
Dr Tan is leading a Singapore delegation on a week-long study trip to Europe, where the group is visiting various institutes with expertise in water and clean-energy technologies.
In the past two days, the group has called on three solar energy agencies, including German solar cell manufacturer Deutsche Solar, a subsidiary of one of the world's largest solar companies, SolarWorld.
At the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) in Petten, Dr Tan explained that the increasing price of electricity produced from burning fossil fuels was thrusting Singapore into the solar power industry.
With oil prices hovering at a high of US$60 (S$101) per barrel, utility costs are unlikely to go down, he added, "unless we find another Saudi Arabia".On the other hand, the cost of solar power has come down steadily, due in large part to advancing technology. With such leaps in knowledge, even sun- scarce Europe can hope to make harnessing solar power as cheap as conventional power by 2015, said the chief executive officer of Deutsche Solar, Professor Peter Woditsch.
Mr Kenneth Tan, who heads the Economic Development Board's section overseeing the growth of the clean-energy sector, said that by learning from established players such as ECN and Deutsche Solar, Singapore can go into research and development, host global solar companies here as well as tap into the global market.
It remains to be seen whether companies like Deutsche Solar will set up shop in Singapore.
A lack of skilled manpower in the field works against Singapore for now, said Prof Woditsch.
However, the island state has other factors in its favour, he added, such as its existing expertise in wafer fabrication and chemical and materials engineering.
To give the solar power market and labour force a foothold here, the EDB will announce test-bedding schemes and revise regulations regarding solar electricity production in homes.
For example, home owners are now barred from feeding excess electricity produced in their homes into the public grid.
taniat@sph.com.sg
Source: Newslink-Althea.
the sun left its mark!
