Singapore companies receive 5 top ASEAN energy honors

Joining the renewable energy project competition for the first time, Singapore was recognised for its extensive research and tangible results.

The Energy Market Authority announced that four Singapore organisations bagged top awards at the 2010 ASEAN Energy Awards. According to the EMA release, the ASEAN Energy Awards recognise efforts by enterprising ASEAN companies to use renewable energy and find energy efficient solutions.

Mr Ronnie N Sargento, Officer-in-Charge & Project Manager, United Nations Development Programme - Capacity-Building to Remove Barriers to Renewable Energy Development, the Philippines‟s representative on the Board of Judges, said “Singapore is currently showing other ASEAN countries the significance of research and the tangible results it could achieve.”

Winners of the Renewable Energy Project Competition 2010 were IUT Singapore Pte Ltd - Food Waste to Renewable Energy; and Eco Special Waste Management Pte Ltd for its Sewage Sludge Dehydration Using Thermal Energy Generated from Sludge Incineration.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority said, “Despite the scale limitations of renewable energy in Singapore, our companies have shown that they have the capabilities to come up with innovative solutions in this area. These awards highlight the opportunities available for companies to use Singapore as a site for test-bedding of renewable energy options, and a platform for exports to other countries where conditions are more conducive for the deployment of large-scale renewable energy solutions.”

“The two renewable energy projects submitted by Singapore were exemplary due to their innovative concepts of utilising daily wastes such as food waste and sewage for power generation. These two projects were lauded as an eye opener for waste utilisation and they have the added benefits of reducing carbon dioxide emissions significantly,” said Myanmar‟s representative on the Board of Judges for the ASEAN Energy Awards 2010, Mr U Win Khaing, Vice President, Myanmar Engineering Society.

Winners for the Best Practices for Energy Efficient Buildings Competition 2010 were City Development Ltd’s Tampines Grande Building and Fuji Xerox Towers; and People’s Association Headquarters. The three winners also attained BCA's Green Mark Platinum and Gold awards, where energy efficiency is a key criterion. The other criteria for Green Mark include water efficiency, environmental protection, indoor environmental quality and other green features, the release said.

The companies received their awards at the ceremony during the Gala Dinner of the 28th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in Da Lat City, Vietnam on Thursday.

Mr S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Education said, “These awards are a testament to the winning companies' contributions to more energy efficient buildings and innovative renewable energy solutions. We look forward to more of such companies as Singapore works to become a smart energy economy.”