News Release
Singapore, 28 October 2014
NTU to build region’s first demonstration micro-grid that
integrates multiple renewable energy sources
New initiative supported by EDB and NEA, together with 10 top industry partners
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will be building a hybrid micro-grid which
will integrate multiple large-scale renewable energy sources.
The first in the region, the hybrid micro-grid will test and demonstrate the integration
of solar, wind, tidal-current, diesel, storage and power-to-gas technologies, and
ensure these energy sources operate well together.
To be built under the new Renewable Energy Integration DemonstratorSingapore (REIDS) initiative, the hybrid micro-grid will be located offshore at
Semakau Landfill and is expected to produce power in the megawatt (MW) range,
which will be suitable for small islands, isolated villages, and emergency power
supplies. This will be able to power around 250 HDB 4-room apartments, which
together consume a peak of 1 MW.
This initiative is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB),
and the National Environment Agency (NEA). The S$8 million initial micro-grid
infrastructure will also facilitate the development and commercialisation of energy
technologies suited for tropical conditions to be developed by NTU together with 10
world leading companies.
It was launched by Mr S. Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second
Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, this morning at the Marina Bay
Sands Expo and Convention Centre as part of the Singapore International Energy
Week 2014.
At the launch ceremony, NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson, EDB’s Assistant
Managing Director Mr Lim Kok Kiang and NEA’s Group Director for Joint Operations
and Technology, Mr Satish Appoo, witnessed a pledge signing ceremony by NTU,
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the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and 10 leading clean
energy companies.
“Sustainability is one of the major pillars of NTU's research. We have been very
active in clean energy research such as in tidal, solar and wind technologies and this
new initiative will allow us to apply our research and integrate the different energy
sources. In so doing, we hope to develop practical renewable solutions for the
energy integration industry,” said Prof Andersson.
This initiative is expected to attract $20 million worth of projects over the next five
years, in addition to the initial $8 million investment in infrastructure on the Semakau
Landfill.
The 10 energy and clean tech industry leaders keen to be part of this groundbreaking effort include Accenture, Alstom, Class NK, DLRE, GDF Suez, Renewable
Energy Corporation, Schneider Electric, Trina Solar, Varta and Vestas.
“NTU’s REIDS will serve as a strategic living lab for Singapore, encompassing a
large scale micro-grid with a plug-and-play setup that clean energy industry leaders
can leverage to develop and demonstrate and diverse range of clean energy
technologies,” said EDB’s Assistant Managing Director Mr Lim Kok Kiang.
“By providing industry leaders with a unique platform to innovate and commercialise
cutting-edge energy solutions suited for the tropical climate, Singapore will be better
positioned to meet the growing demand for renewable energy technologies in the
Asian region,” Mr Lim added.
Mr S. Satish Appoo, Group Director, Joint Operations and Technology, NEA said,
“The REIDS initiative enables the development of renewable energy solutions in
Singapore for a sustainable future, which is important for an economy largely
dependent on energy imports.
“As Singapore works towards greater self-sufficiency in energy production, the
National Environment Agency (NEA) is happy to host REIDS clean energy facilities
on Semakau Landfill, and support the national effort to explore renewable energy
solutions.”
REIDS to be implemented in two phases
In the first phase, a micro-grid facility will be built at the Semakau Landfill that will
oversee energy storage facilities, solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines.
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The hybrid micro-grid will provide a full-scale test-bed for Singapore’s on-going
energy research, working closely with scientists and engineers from both the public
and private sectors.
A key problem posed by renewable energy sources is that of intermittent power
supply. The hybrid micro-grid aims to ensure a stable and consistent power supply
through the integration of a variety of smart energy management and storage
systems.
The second phase will involve the development of a scaled-up tidal energy facility
around Semakau Landfill and St. John’s Island, which will then be integrated with the
first phase.
A key long term goal will see the development of micro-grid technologies that can
help provide electricity to overseas communities that do not have access to power.
This is in addition to introducing new technologies that can stabilise power grids in
urban communities. Both are widely regarded as critical needs across Asia.
Please see the Annex for the details of companies involved in the REIDS initiative.
***END***
Media contact:
Nur Amin Shah (Mr)
Manager (Media Relations)
Corporate Communications Office
Nanyang Technological University
Tel: (65) 6790-4714; Mobile: 8189-1029
Email: aminshah@ntu.edu.sg
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About Nanyang Technological University
A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has
33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering,
Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary
Graduate School. It has a new medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of
Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.
NTU is home to world-class autonomous institutes – the National Institute of
Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of
Singapore, and Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and
various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water
Research Institute (NEWRI), Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the
Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI).
A fast-growing university with an international outlook, NTU is putting its global
stamp on Five Peaks of Excellence: Sustainable Earth, Future Healthcare, New
Media, New Silk Road, and Innovation Asia.
Besides the main Yunnan Garden campus, NTU also has a satellite campus in
Singapore’s science and tech hub, one-north, and a third campus in Novena,
Singapore’s medical district.
For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg
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Annex
Leading multinational companies involved in the Renewable Energy Integration
Demonstrator - Singapore (REIDS) initiative:
1. Accenture – one of the world’s leading organizations providing management
consulting, technology and outsourcing services
2. Alstom – industry leader in electric power generation, electric grid equipment,
and transport solutions
3. Class NK – not-for-profit society dedicated in providing classification and
technical services to maritime and clean tech industries
4. DLRE – Singaporean company focusing on micro-grids, distributed generation,
remote area power systems
5. GDF Suez – world’s largest independent electricity producer with activities in
electricity generation and distribution, natural gas and renewable energy
6. Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) – top company that operates the
world’s largest integrated solar manufacturing complex outside of China in
Singapore
7. Schneider Electric – global company specialising in electricity distribution,
automation, and energy management
8. Trina Solar – pioneer of China’s photovoltaic industry and global solar
modules, and solutions provider
9. Varta AG – a leading global energy storage solutions provider
10. Vestas – world’s largest manufacturer and installer of wind turbines
Government agencies supporting the REIDS initiative:
1. Economic Development Board – lead government agency for planning and
executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s positing as a global business
centre
2. National Environment Agency – lead government agency responsible for
improving and sustaining a clean and green environment in Singapore
Non-government organisation supporting the REIDS initiative:
1. Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS)

SEAS represent the interests and provide a common platform for
companies in renewable and clean energy to collaborate and
undertake viable projects together
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