Singapore’s energy body, the Energy Market Authority (EMA), has launched the Smart Energy Challenge to provide seed funding of up to S$5 million per project for innovative energy ideas that meet Singapore’s energy needs.
Through the initiative, the EMA aims to support new energy solutions that enhance Singapore’s energy security through fuel diversification, achieve higher energy efficiency and boost the development of the energy sector.
Announcing the launch of the Smart Energy Challenge during the Platts 4th Annual Top 250 Global Energy Companies Awards and Leadership Dinner held on the opening night of the Singapore International Energy Week, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Mr S Iswaran said, “through this process, we hope to exploit new technologies and develop solutions that will catalyse new industries, strengthen our economic competitiveness, and enhance energy security and environmental sustainability. The Energy Market Authority will be providing more details on how researchers and companies can apply for funding under the Smart Energy Challenge. I hope that this initiative will lead to a proliferation of innovative ideas that will make significant contributions to the energy sector and help address Singapore’s long term challenges”.
Drawing from the $25 million Energy Research and Development Fund, the Smart Energy Challenge will focus on innovative energy solutions in three key areas:
Power Generation
New technologies for clean and renewable energy are steadily evolving, as well as new carbon capture
techniques to generate power from fossil fuels without the harmful effects of carbon emissions. The scheme will support new concepts for clean and diverse forms of power generation that can be developed and applied in Singapore.
Energy for Transport
Singapore’s transportation sector accounts for about 13 percent of our overall energy consumption. The scheme will support innovative solutions to reduce the transport system’s carbon footprint, for example, in the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and the supporting infrastructure or other forms of clean transportation.
Energy Efficiency for Industry
Effective energy efficiency solutions will not only help to reduce emissions but also keep electricity costs low. The scheme will support new breakthroughs in energy efficiency for industrial users, whether in the area of more efficient manufacturing processes, improved cooling systems for data centres, or systems for recycling of waste heat.
The Smart Energy Challenge is open to all Singapore-based Institutes of Higher Learning, public sector agencies, not-for-profit organisations/research laboratories and private sector companies, as well as company-affiliated research laboratories/institutions with an interest in R&D and test-bedding technologies and solutions.
The closing date for the submission of proposals is 20 February 2010.
Further details of the Smart Energy Challenge are available on the EMA’s website (www.ema.gov.sg) as well as the Singapore Electronic Business system (GeBIZ - www.gebiz.gov.sg).
