COVER STORY
HDB INCREASES SOLAR TARGET AND LAUNCHES FIFTH SOLARNOVA TENDER Reinforcing the commitment to increase clean energy genera on.
HDB is targe ng to install solar panels on about 10,000 HDB blocks where feasible, to help reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint. Image by HDB.
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has reinforced its commitment to generate more clean energy with a new solar target of 540 megawatt-peak (MWp) by 2030. This is part of the new national solar target, to work towards at least 2 GWp by 2030, as announced in October 2019 by the Government. With the increase in solar capacity to be achieved, HDB remains the largest driver for installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore. Having already surpassed the previous solar target of 220 MWp, the new 540 MWp target could potentially generate 648 GWh of clean energy annually. This is equivalent to powering about 135,000 4-room flats with clean energy, and potentially reducing carbon emissions by 324,000 t per year. In comparison, this would increase clean energy generation by 145% from the previous target.
Launch of Fifth SolarNova Tender HDB has called the fifth solar leasing tender under the SolarNova programme led jointly with the Singapore 16
THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER February 2020
Economic Development Board (EDB), aggregating public sector demand for the installation of solar panels across 1,154 HDB blocks and 46 government sites. This latest tender will reap 60 MWp of solar energy islandwide, creating more clean energy and helping to reduce carbon emissions, thereby helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. The fifth SolarNova tender involves the participation of six agencies, including Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) who are participating for the first time. The solar leasing tender will close on 2 March 2020, and is targeted to be awarded in 3Q 2020. Installation of the PV systems is expected to be completed by 1Q 2023.
Ramping up solar efforts With advances in solar PV technology, HDB is able to make bolder strides to harness solar energy, as more solar energy can be generated from the same amount of space on HDB rooftops. For instance, the industry standard for solar panels has risen since the start of the SolarNova programme in 2014. Monocrystalline
