Gearing up for Singapore's bright future in solar energy
Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore at NUS officially launches photovoltaic module development and testing laboratories at CleanTech Park
The Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), part of the National University of Singapore (NUS), todayofficially opened its photovoltaic module development and testing laboratories at CleanTech Park. The facility will boost Singapore's capabilities in the solar energy sector, in particular, advancing solar energy research and conducting quality assurance of photovoltaic modules and systems.
The 1,700 square metres facility houses SERIS' Photovoltaic (PV) Module cluster where researchers focus on the development and testing of PV modules, also known as solar panels. It comprises an R&D pilot production line for PV modules and a fully-equipped testing and certification centre where full-size modules are tested according to international standards, including those from Europe, the US and Japan. The world-class facility costs S$6 million to build and is the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia. It is able to provide the full spectrum of testing and certification services required by the global solar industry.
SERIS' laboratories at CleanTech Park are equipped with state-of-the-art testing capabilities for PV modules and systems such as a large-area solar simulator, several climatic chambers, PV module safety and performance measurement systems, as well as a dynamic mechanical load testing station. The facility is also set to become a global centre for potential-induced degradation (PID) testing of solar panels, and will contribute to the development of PID-free solar cells and modules.
Professor Armin Aberle, Chief Executive Officer of SERIS, said, “We are very excited to have our photovoltaic module development and testing laboratories with the latest technologies at CleanTech Park. With this facility, we aim to take solar energy research, development and deployment to the next level in Singapore. We are currently collaborating with other research institutes and government agencies to accelerate the 'solarisation' of Singapore and bring cost-effective solar power to Singaporeans, which will also help to lower the country's carbon footprint.”
The new laboratories at CleanTech Park will complement the National Solarisation Centre which was established under SERIS in December 2013. The Centre aims to support the large-scale deployment of solar power in Singapore through raising awareness about solar energy as well as providing technical expertise to the public and private sectors. It will also host an online platform that can identify suitable areas for solar installations in Singapore, such as roof-tops. The platform will also collect and host information about solar PV installations across the city-state, including individual systems' performances, and benchmarks across multiple systems nationwide. Please refer to the Annex for more details on the National Solarisation Centre.
Against the backdrop of increasing cost competitiveness and growing adoption of solar energy globally, the government has announced in March that it plans to install 350 MWp of solar PV by 2020, projected to be about five per cent of peak electricity demand then. SERIS' laboratories will contribute to this initiative by analysing the amount of space available for solar installations as well as providing technical expertise on system design and planning.
Mr Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director at EDB, said, “The launch of SERIS' photovoltaic module development and testing laboratories at CleanTech Park marks an important milestone in the development of SERIS since its establishment in 2008 as a leading solar energy research institute in Singapore and the region. We are confident that these laboratories will strengthen SERIS' capabilities to serve the innovation needs of industry partners, especially in downstream solar research areas. They will also play an important role to catalyse the adoption of solar energy in Singapore as well as bolster our position as a leading clean energy research and innovation hub.”
In addition, the location of SERIS' PV Module cluster in CleanTech Park enhances knowledge-sharing with potential customers, business partners, venture capital firms as well as industry associations, such as the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS), which are located in the vicinity.
Dr Thomas Reindl, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Acting Cluster Director of PV Modules at SERIS, said, “SERIS is in a unique position where the knowledge we gain in photovoltaic module development and testing can be leveraged for the large-scale deployment of well-designed, high-performing solar PV systems in Singapore and the region. Through this kind of synergy, we can offer a more comprehensive and holistic service to our clients and research partners. With our facility at Singapore's CleanTech Park, we are now also closer to several of our key clients and will be able to offer them these services with the same dedication and even faster turn-around times.”
