Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore inks deal with ADB

This is for a regional training centre focused on renewable energy.

The Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS), which represents the sustainable energy sector here, today announced a deal with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to set up a regional training centre for renewable energy in the republic.

SEAS will manage the ADB-funded programme to train up to 150 policy makers a year in Singapore for the regional energy sector.

The Singapore Centre will be the first training centre of its kind to build capabilities, drive partnerships and bring together key decision makers under a structured programme in the area of clean and renewable energy. The S$1 million initiative is expected to create market opportunities and access to sustainable projects in the region.  Edwin Khew, SEAS Chairman, said: “The partnership with the ADB is a significant boost to 

SEAS’s efforts to propel Singapore further as a global Clean Energy Hub. The new training Centre will equip decision makers with knowledge in the strategic areas of policy, technology and financing sustainable energy projects for the future.”

He added: “With SEAS having strong linkages with project developers, financial institutions and key government agencies in Singapore and the region, the Centre will act as a catalyst to further develop the sustainable energy sector.”

Bindu Lohani, ADB Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, said: “SEAS took a keen interest in ADB's Energy for All Initiative and we are pleased that together, the new centre will continue to allow greater strides in renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

“Singapore is a centre of research and innovation and SEAS’s location there will help develop public-private partnerships which can generate market solutions to help attain the universal energy access goals of the sustainable Energy For All initiative.”

There are two core commitments under the agreement with the ADB:

 Setting up of a training Centre: The training Centre will collaborate with industry players to educate and train policy makers, serve as a focal point to drive collaboration between different stakeholders in sustainable energy, and serve as a channel for continued education; and 

 Participating at the Singapore International Energy Week/Asia Clean Energy Summit: The clean energy forums will act as a bridge for policy makers to meet and share their knowledge with technology providers, financial institutions and the like. The goal is for Asia Clean Energy Summit to train and build capacity in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The collaboration between SEAS and the ADB was marked against the backdrop of the visit by SMEs from Italy’s clean energy sector. The visiting delegation was coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency in Singapore, a government unit under the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, and SEAS is playing the key role in match making.

During this visit, the Italian companies, which specialise in biomass, biogas, solar energy, waste and water management, are looking to tie up with like-minded Singapore companies.