Solar For Government Organizations In Singapore

• Singapore's two government agencies, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) have floated solar tenders for 40 MW at government sites
• This is the second tender to be issued as part of the SolarNova program.
• The SolarNova Program targets to install solar systems on 636 HDB blocks and 31 government sites
• Companies bidding for the 40 MW will be allowed to form consortiums
• The first part of the tender - 76 MW - was launched in June 2015 and awarded in December 2015 to Sunseap Leasing Pte Ltd.

Nine governmental organizations in Singapore are planned to be fitted with solar PV panels with an aggregate capacity of 40 MW. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Economic Development Board (EDB) have floated tenders.

Reporting the development, Channel News Asia stated that the solar tender will look at developing solar capacity across the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education and the National Environment Agency.

The tenders are part of the SolarNova program, a government led solar lead demand program being steered by the EDB. Under this, the government agencies are encouraged to use solar energy to carry out their day-today activities. The first part of the tender was launched in June 2015 and awarded in December 2015 to Sunseap Leasing Pte Ltd. At 76 MW capacity, it was the largest tender back then in both the public and private sectors in the country. It covered 831 HDB blocks and eight Ministry of Home Affairs, and Public Utilities Board sites.

Last year, Sunseap partnered with Apple to power 100% of the US company's operations in Singapore with solar energy.

Through its SolarNova program the government is aiming to have 350 MW of solar power in Singapore by 2020. The HDB alone wants to have 220 MW of solar capacity on 5,500 of its blocks. More tenders are to be announced in the next few years under the aegis of this plan.

In the second tender announcement made on October 10, the agencies have allowed for companies to form consortiums to bid for these projects. Around 636 HDB blocks and 31 government sites are planned to get solar panels. Some of the sites include the Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre, Bishan Fire Station and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

In total, the number of HDB blocks installed with solar panels is targeted to reach 2,500 with the new tender in place, increasing from 900 at the end of 2016, compared to 400 HDB blocks in 2015.

The last date to apply for these tenders is December 30, 2016, and will be awarded sometimes in Q1/2017. All installation works is scheduled to come to a close in Q1/2019.