SolarQuarter ASEAN Apr-May Issue 2021

Empowering, Insightful, Engaging

W W W . S O L A R Q U A R T E R . C O M

V O L U M E

1 |

I S S U E

3

|

A P R - M A Y

RISE AND SHINE SOLAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA I N S I G H T S W W W . S O L A R Q U A R T E R . C O M

VIETNAM’S PDP8 PAUSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE MARKET STRUCTURES FLOATING SOLAR OUTLOOK IN SINGAPORE

2 0 2 1

IN CONVERSATION

CONTENT

NEWS

06

22 SAMRIDH GOYAL Founder & CEO, Solar Horizon Pte. Ltd.

26 DEEPAK KHETARPAL COO South East Asia, SunSource Energy

38 ANDREW GILHOOLY Assistant Director TrinaPro Business APAC, Trina Solar

INSIGHTS

29

32

RISE AND SHINE OF SOLAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

IEEFA Report says Vietnam’s PDP8 Pause Is an Opportunity to Improve Market Structures

PUBLISHING

EDITING

35

DESIGNING

CONTENT

FLOATING SOLAR OUTLOOK IN SINGAPORE

ADVERTISING

CIRCULATION

Firstview Media

Sangita Shetty

Ashwini Chikkodi

Neha Barangali

Smriti Singh

Kunal Verma

Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

editorial@firstviewgroup.com

Sadhana Raju Shenvekar

Radha Buddhadev

Meghna Sharma

Sanjana Kamble

design@firstviewgroup.com

advertise@firstviewgroup.com

SUBCRIPTION

publishing@firstviewgroup.com

W W W . S O L A R Q U A R T E R . C O M

subscribe@firstviewgroup.com

ADVERTISE WITH US Contact: Smriti Singh e: smriti@firstviewgroup.com

Steps for SolarQuarter India Subscription 1.

SCAN Scan the QR code below

2.

SUBSCRIBE Subscribe To India Print Edition Magazine & get access to our Bi-Monthly SolarQuarter Issues.

Scan Here Happy Reading!

India Print Edition Magazine

subscribe@firstviewgroup.com

ASEAN NEWS Vietnam LYS ENERGY VIETNAM INAUGURATES 5.67 MWP OF ROOFTOP SOLAR PV SYSTEMS Opening this new year 2021, to pursue its expansion in the country LYS Energy (Vietnam), a fully-owned subsidiary of LYS Energy Group, has marked a new milestone with the commissioning of four new solar PV systems, equivalent to a total of 5.67MWp, atop of local manufacturing companies located in the Long An and Binh Duong Industrial zones. The cumulated energy generated will significantly reduce the four facilities’ carbon footprint of approximately 7,299 tons-CO2/year. The Group has been operating in Vietnam since 2016 with the commissioning of its first solar PV system turnkey installation in Ho Chi Minh City on the roof of an F&B industrial client’s facility. In four months time, LYS Energy Vietnam has successfully installed a total capacity of 6.68MWp rooftop solar PV systems and is currently building another 4.62 MWp which are expected to be commissioned in the coming months.

EMBASSY OF SWEDEN IN VIETNAM INSTALLS ROOFTOP SOLAR In order to promote clean and renewable energy, The embassy of Sweden has recently installed solar panels at the Swedish “Greener“ Residence in Tay Ho, Hanoi. This installed PV rooftop solar panel with energy storage at the Swedish Green Residence, 10 Dang Thai Mai is a first of its kind in the area. It has a total capacity of 18.5kW and uses special hybrid inverters and batteries to save energy for later use.

This ability to store energy enables the system to also operate as a backup power supply during blackout. In a span of just 58 days of operation, the system has produced 1.74MWh which is equivalent to 5 trees planted, 0.60 tons of coal saving, and about 1.73 tons of CO2 emission in a short period of time during winter. The system is expected to produce more power in the summer when sunlight is abundant in Hanoi.

FIRST CONSTANT ENERGY PROJECT IN VIETNAM COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION, CLOSES PROJECT FINANCING AND STARTS OPERATION Constant Energy’s first Corporate PPA with Leading Star Garment Joint Stock company in Binh D ươ ng, Vietnam was energized with a total installed capacity of 1 MWp and closed a non-recourse project finance of VND 8.9 billion (approx. THB 11.5 million) with Indovina Bank, a joint venture bank between Vietnam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) and Cathay United Bank (CUB) of Taiwan. This project is co-developed with Solar ESCO Joint Stock Company – a member company of SolarBK who is the leading rooftop solar supplier and contractor with a long track record in Vietnam.

Constant Energy Vietnam and Solar ESCO Joint Stock Company had entered into an agreement of joint development of corporate PPA projects in Vietnam in May 2020.

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 06

SUNSEAP SIGNS 20-YEAR AGREEMENTS TO SUPPLY CLEAN ENERGY TO VIETNAM ELECTRICITY’S NATIONAL GRID Sunseap Group, Singapore’s leading solar energy provider, have signed 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Vietnam Electricity to supply clean energy to the country’s national grid.

Sunseap will generate the solar energy from seven newly commissioned solar plants in Vietnam. With a total capacity of 23.2MWp, these plants were installed within three months despite movement restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The PPAs were signed under Vietnam Electricity’s Feed-InTariff 2 programme to promote investments in renewable energy sources by guaranteeing producers an above-market rate for selling into the grid. Sunseap said the plants comprised close to 60,000 photo-voltaic (PV) panels and 370 DC/AC inverters, and are expected to yield around 40,424,479 kilowatt-hours of clean energy per year, equivalent to delivering clean energy to about 13,000 households in Vietnam and reducing carbon dioxide by more than 20,500 tons annually. The PV systems were built atop factory and warehouse buildings across Southern Vietnam in various provinces including Ba Ria Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Phoc and Binh Duong.

A 350 MW PV PLANT WITH SUNGROW INVERTER SOLUTION COMES ONLINE IN VIETNAM Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, announced the commercial operation of a 350 MW solar farm – the largest solar plant in Southeast Asia, with the Company’s 1500V 6.25 MW turnkey inverter solution in Vietnam’s Loc Ninh County, Binh Phuoc Province, boosting the national development towards sustainable and decarbonized economic growth. The Company states that the plant will generate more than 700 GWh of solar electricity per year, enabling power to power 370,000 households. With a fixed tariff of $0.0709 per kWh, the revenue can reach $49,630,000 per year. Vietnam is one of the hottest renewable energy markets in the world, particularly increased in line with its overall economic growth.

It’s reported that the country will face severe power shortages from 2021 onwards when electricity demand will outpace the construction of new generation capacity. Sungrow will continue to bring forth cutting-edge renewable energy solutions collaborating with partners, powering up more communities and facilities.

ASEAN

TNB ENTERS VIETNAM SOLAR MARKET WITH FIRST ROOFTOP SOLAR INVESTMENT, EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH SUNSEAP GROUP Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) wholly-owned subsidiary, TNB Renewables Sdn. Bhd., will acquire a 39% stake from Sunseap Group in a 21.6MW project comprising 5 rooftop solar plants in Vietnam (the Project) from Singapore’s Sunseap Group. The Project has secured the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) under the FiT2 scheme in Vietnam which is intended to promote investments in renewable energy sources through lucrative and abovemarket rate tariffs. Having achieved commercial operation date in December 2020, all five (5) plants are under 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the state-owned utility company, Vietnam Electricity, to supply clean energy to the country’s national grid. Sunseap currently holds 90% stake in the projects, which will be reduced to 51% upon completion of the 39% stake acquisition by TNB Renewables slated for the first quarter of this year.

TENAGA NASIONAL TO INVEST IN FIVE VIETNAM SOLAR PROJECTS BY SUNSEAP Sunseap Group, Singapore’s leading solar energy provider, said today that TNB Renewables Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian national electricity company Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), will be buying a 39% stake in its five solar rooftop projects in Vietnam. The projects in southern Vietnam with a total capacity of 21.6 megawatts peak (MWp) were completed in December 2020 under Vietnam Electricity’s (EVN) Feed-In-Tariff 2 programme to promote investments in renewable energy sources by guaranteeing producers an above-market rate. All five plants have a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with state-owned EVN to supply clean energy to Vietnam’s national grid at a feed-in-tariff of US$0.0838/kWh. APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 07

TRUNGNAM GROUP SELLS 49% STAKE IN VIETNAM SOLAR PLANT The Trungnam Group, a HCMC, Vietnam based group with interests in real estate, infrastructure and energy has sold a 49 percent stake in a central Vietnam solar power plant to an electricity equipment manufacturer. The sale value has not been disclosed. The stake has been bought by A Chau Industrial Technology, a manufacturer of electrical equipment that has been showing increasing interest in solar power development in recent years. It now operates five solar power plants nationwide. Almost 3 years ago, the TrungNam group had started operating its VND5 trillion ($217.63 million) 204-megawatt Trung Nam Thuan Bac Solar Power Plant in Ninh Thuan Province. The plant could produce 450 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year with its 700,000 solar panels.

GREENYELLOW THAILAND COMMISSIONS FIRST FLOATING SOLAR POWER PLANT Greenyellow Thailand which is a subsidiary of the French solar company Greenyellow, which is itself a subsidiary of French mass-retail company Groupe Casino, has announced the commissioning of Thailand’s first floating solar power plant. This plant is a 2 MW plant that was deployed in Thailand on the site of local agro-food company SPM group.

The 6,000 solar panels used for the project occupy a 1.6ha area on a 4.3ha pond. The plant will produce 2.8 GWh of low carbon electricity per year, covering up to 20% of the annual energy consumption of the site.

AMPAS GROUP AND CONSTANT ENERGY EXECUTE SOLAR ROOFTOP PHASE 2 & 3 CORPORATE PPAS OF FIVE FACTORIES IN THAILAND

Thailand UNICHARM THAILAND AND SYMBIOR SOLAR SUCCESSFULLY STARTS COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF 6MWP SOLAR PV PROJECT SYMBIOR Solar announced that UNICHARM 6MW rooftop solar project is officially connected to the grid for commercial operation. This project is located in the vicinity of Bangkok in Bang Pakong District. Symbior will ensure the generation of solar PV systems and continually supply green renewable energy to Unicharm over the next 15 years.

6MW is the installed capacity of the project 30,180 square meters roof space 15,000 pieces of modules 3 km of walkway and 1 km of guard rails to ensure safety of every worker on the roof

Constant Energy is pleased to announce it has executed five more long-term Corporate PPAs with Ampas Group’s factories located in Bangpoo Industrial Estate, Thailand with a total capacity of 2.8 MW. Following the installation in 2020 of the same projects of 5.1 MW, the second and third phase projects are expected to be completed and start operation in the third quarter of this year.

Ampas is a leading automotive company from Thailand supplying global car manufacturers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Thailand and regulations to travel across provinces, a physical signing ceremony is not able to be held.

Constant Energy instead has held the E-Signing Ceremony via Zoom meeting application to follow COVID-19 preventions.

The project not only brings savings on utility bills to Unicharm, but also helps green and low-carbon transition, undertaking social responsibility and demonstrating the sustainable image of the company.

SYMBIOR SOLAR ANNOUNCED THAT UNICHARM 6MW ROOFTOP SOLAR PROJECT IS OFFICIALLY CONNECTED TO THE GRID FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATION." ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 08

CLEANTECH SOLAR CELEBRATES THE LAUNCH OF A 1 MW PV SYSTEM FOR TAN CHONG SUBARU AUTOMOTIVE IN THAILAND Cleantech Solar and Tan Chong Subaru Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd (TCSAT) inaugurated a 1 MW system on the rooftops of TCSAT’s office building and assembly plant located in Lat Krabang Industrial Estate, near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The installation includes over 3000 solar panels at TCSAT. The project is expected to generate over 27 GWh of clean energy, avoiding 15,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions across the agreement’s term of 20 years. The Thai government has placed a high priority on alternative energy sources to power the auto industry. With the government’s ambition to place Thailand amongst the top car manufacturers in the world, the project will contribute to the country’s vision to be a leading sustainable auto hub of the future.

SAHA GROUP BUILDS THAILAND’S FIRST FLOATING SOLAR PLANT IN AN INDUSTRIAL PARK Thailand’s Saha Group, a leader in industrial sustainability, has revealed Thailand’s first floating solar power system in an industrial park at Saha Group Industrial Park Sriracha, as a model project supported by the Government of Japan to facilitate the reduction of greenhouse gas globally. Saha Group revealed its floating solar power project in a launch event presided over by Chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana. This plant is the first in an industrial park in Thailand and a model for utilising a reservoir for higher quality of life in an industrial park with attention to its people, community members and the environment.

MITSUBISHI MOTORS STARTED OPERATION OF A ROOFTOP SOLAR POWER SYSTEM AT ITS LAEMCHABANG FACTORY IN THAILAND MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) started operation of a 5-megawatt (MW) capacity rooftop solar power system at the Laemchabang Factory of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MMTh), a production and sales company in Thailand.

Combined this solar power system with the 2-MW capacity system, which is scheduled to be implemented in the near future, MMTh expects to reduce CO2 emissions from production activities by more than 6,100 tons per year. Based on the Environmental Targets 2030, MMC is proceeding with efforts to achieve a 40-percent reduction in CO2 through its business activities compared to FY2014. As one of these, the Company is promoting the introduction of renewable energy in order to reduce CO2 emissions from production activities, and plans to introduce more utility-scale solar power systems at domestic and overseas manufacturing centers.

THE THAI GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED A HIGH PRIORITY ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES TO POWER THE AUTO INDUSTRY." ASEAN

ADB, ENERGY ABSOLUTE SIGN GREEN LOAN FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THAILAND The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Energy Absolute Public Company Limited (Energy Absolute) signed a 1.5 billion Thai baht ($47.62 million) green loan to finance ongoing renewable energy projects and a countrywide electric vehicle charging network in Thailand. The loan will finance the Nakornsawan Solar and Hanuman Wind power plants, and deploy fast and standard chargers at charging stations across Thailand. Thailand aims to be a regional leader in electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from conventional transportation, which currently accounts for around 26% of the country’s total annual emissions.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 09

NAMIKI PRECISION (THAILAND) CO., LTD. AND CONSTANT ENERGY / SHIZEN ENERGY EXECUTE A CORPORATE PPA FOR A CORPORATE SOLAR PV ROOFTOP IN THAILAND Constant Energy and its Japanese partner, Shizen Energy, are pleased to announce they have executed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement on a corporate solar PV rooftop of total installation capacity of 1.3 MW with Namiki Precision (Thailand) Co., Ltd. a leading company on producing and providing Medical Devices, Fiber Optic Components, DC Micro Motor located in Northern Region Industrial Estate, Lamphun province. The project is expected to start operation in the third quarter of this year.

Franck Constant, Founder, and CEO of Constant Energy stated “We are very pleased and honoured to establish a long-term partnership and work with Namiki Precision (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a leading company for manufacturing high-quality medical devices, fiber optic components, and DC micro motor. We are especially appreciative of the vision of Namiki on environment conservation. We appreciate that Namiki found that Constant Energy has been rapid to implement Namiki’s site as a priority. The project is expected to COD in the third quarter of this year. We look forward to supporting Namiki on a combined reduction of electricity cost and GHG emissions.”

THAILAND’S FLOATING HYDRO-SOLAR HYBRID PROJECT CLOSE TO COMPLETION Thailand is building one the world’s biggest floating hydro-solar hybrid projects on the surface of a dam and has almost completed it. This is a step towards boosting renewable energy production. The solar farm is located on a reservoir in the northeast province of Ubon Ratchathani. Itcovers 300 acres (121 hectares) of water where about 144,417 solar panels are being installed. The workers are completing the last of seven solar farms. The staterun Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT) says that this pilot project is one of the world’s largest hybrid hydro-solar power ventures and aims to replicate it at eight more dams over the next 16 years.

ASEAN

Indonesia CLEANTECH SOLAR ENTERS INTO A LONG-TERM COOPERATION WITH ELANG PERDANA, A MAJOR INDONESIAN TYRE MANUFACTURER Cleantech Solar, one of the largest commercial and industrial (C&I) solar PV developers in Asia, enters into a long-term agreement with PT. Elang Perdana Tyre Industry for a 4.5 MW solar PV project.

Cleantech Solar will provide the complete turnkey solution and guarantee the performance of the solar PV system throughout the lifetime of the 25year agreement. This project will help Elang Perdana with their sustainability agenda by generating over 136,300 MWh of clean electricity; equivalent to offsetting over 117,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions. his contributes to Indonesia’s ambitious target to increase its share of renewables in the national energy mix to 23% by 2025.

CHANDRA ASRI, INDONESIA CONTINUES ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH TOTAL SOLAR DG TO SOLARIZE ITS CILEGON PLANT

PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk continues its partnership with Total Solar DG to build a second solar panel or photovoltaic (PV) installation in the former Cilegon plan. The rooftop PV installation will power Chandra Asri’s warehouses, laboratory building and charging station for electrical forklifts, reducing up to 438 ton of CO2 emission. It is set to produce an addition of 554 megawatt-hours of solar powered electricity which represents an equivalent of 40 households consumption and will allow to save as much CO2 as planting almost 7000 trees.

The project follows successful commissioning of Chandra Asri’s first solar system, which was built and commissioned by Total Solar DG in 2019 and has been able to produce 935 megawatt-hours of energy to power Chandra Asri’s office buildings in Cilegon.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 10

HITACHI ABB POWER GRIDS ENABLES GREENER MINING WITH LARGEST MICROGRID FACILITY IN INDONESIA

FOURTH PARTNER ENERGY AND INDIKA ENERGY PROVIDE SOLARPOWERED SOLUTIONS TO INDONESIA

PT ABB Power Grids Indonesia, has successfully deployed the first microgrid solution in Indonesia to ensure a continuous power supply for off-grid mining operations at Indo Tambangraya Megah’s (ITM) facility called Indominco Mandiri (IMM) in Bontang, East Kalimantan. The largest of its kind in Indonesia, this microgrid harnesses solar power to help reduce ITM’s carbon footprint – a key milestone in their commitment to reduce carbon emission, while reducing operational cost. In operation since 2019, the project has successfully integrated solar generation into the network, stabilizing and improving energy efficiency for the customer with e-meshTM grid edge solutions portfolio, including the PowerStoreTM Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and advanced controls. The system is expected to produce 230 MWh from solar PV annually, resulting in 192 tonnes of CO2 reduction.

Indika Energy strengthens its commitment to supporting Indonesia’s new and renewable energy sector by launching an integrated solar power company in partnership with India’s leading solar developer, Fourth Partner Energy. The joint venture will combine the outstanding track record of Fourth Partner Energy in building and operating over 550 MW in India and elsewhere, with Indika Energy’s world-class engineering capabilities and strong track record in bringing reliable energy solutions to the people of Indonesia. President Director of Indika Energy, Arsjad Rasjid said, “Indika Energy is proud to team up with Fourth Partner Energy to establish EMITS, a solar energy company that will provide a one-stop-shop, renewable energy solutions platform for Indonesia’s commercial and industrial sectors. This joint venture is a manifestation of our commitment to diversify our business portfolios, achieve sustainability goals, improve our ESG performance, as well as support the Indonesian government’s efforts to achieve its renewable energy mix target of 23% by 2025.”

INDIKA ENERGY STRENGTHENS ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING INDONESIA’S NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR BY LAUNCHING AN INTEGRATED SOLAR POWER COMPANY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA’S LEADING SOLAR DEVELOPER, FOURTH PARTNER ENERGY."

TSINGSHAN PLANS SOLAR PLANT IN INDONESIA Recently, China’s Tsingshan Industry launched its project for building a clean energy base. This project seeks to develop and construct solar and wind energy plants and supporting facilities in Tsingshan’s Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park and Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park. The project follows six months of intensive feasibility studies and careful planning. Tsingshan Industry is committed towards investing and building a 2000 MW clean energy base in Indonesia within the next three to five years, and laying the clean energy groundwork for further green developments.

Tsingshan Industry vigorously upholds and promotes energy conservation, emission reduction, and a low carbon footprint environment. Tsingshan Industry contributes tirelessly towards benefiting all of mankind, protecting our shared homeland, and achieving sustainable development for everyone around the world.

CHINA’S TSINGSHAN INDUSTRY LAUNCHED ITS PROJECT FOR BUILDING A CLEAN ENERGY BASE." ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 11

THE LANDMARK IEA-INDONESIA ENERGY TRANSITION ALLIANCE WILL BUILD A PATH TO A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE

IESR: INDONESIA CAN ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY BEFORE 2060 In an effort to fulfil the mandate of the Paris Agreement, the Government Indonesia through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) as the national focal point for the UNFCCC, announcing a Long-Term Strategy for Reducing Carbon Emissions and Climate Resilience 2050 (Long-term Strategy on Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR) 2050. Several things listed in the LTS-LCCR 2050 document: The achievement of Indonesia’s first NDC is targeted in 2030, then Indonesia will achieve net-zero emission by 2070; In mitigation efforts, the LCCP scenario (low carbon scenario compatible with Paris Agreement target) indicates an ambitious target to be implemented in the AFOLU sector (agriculture, forestry and land use), energy, industrial processes and uses products (IPPU), as well as waste; On a low carbon and climate-resilient policy direction, it is estimated Indonesia will reach the highest peak (peaking) in GHG emissions by 2030 in AFOLU and energy sectors before finally reaching net zero emissions by 2070.

For the energy sector, a transition scenario and LCCP will be an option to be applied. In the more ambitious LCCP target, the primary energy mix will be 34% coal, gas 25%, oil 8%, renewables 33% in 2050.

Additional renewables for generators of around 38 GW in 2035 and will be prioritized for Solar Power Generation due to the increasing investment costs.

ASEAN

IEA and Indonesia establish a new collaboration platform for accelerating energy transitions and driving sustainable and resilient recoveries from Covid-19 crisis. The IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, and Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, announced the IEA-Indonesia Energy Transition Alliance, marking a step-change in ambition for Indonesia’s energy transition. The Allianceenhances collaboration between Indonesia and the IEA on tackling the emerging energy challenges of our time – both within Indonesia and internationally. It acts as a framework to work together to support policy development, accelerate Indonesia’s energy transition, and mobilize high-level political engagement. The Alliance will allow the IEA and Indonesia to build new partnerships and launch new workstreams to support Indonesia’s international energy leadership.

Philippines SUNSOURCE ENERGY DEVELOPS SOLAR PORTFOLIO FOR PEPSI IN PHILIPPINES SunSource Energy has announced the development of a large portfolio of solar PV projects for one of the world’s leading F&B companies, Pepsi in Philippines, in alignment with their plan of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

Solar PV projects will be spread across 3 islands of the Philippines and have the potential to reduce GHG emissions by more than 12,500 MT per year.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 12

WITH ENERGY CHINA AS THE EPC CONTRACTOR, THE PHASE I OF ALASKA MILK STATION (3.024MW) IN THE PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTED TO THE GRID AND OFFICIALLY PUT INTO OPERATION."

AC ENERGY OBTAINS 50% OF PAMPANGA SOLAR FARM IN PHILIPPINES The AC Energy group has acquired a 50 percent stake in a 50-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Pampanga being developed by Citicore Solar Energy Corp. (CSEC). The company disclosed that along with its subsidiary ACE Endevor Inc., it has signed a shareholders’ agreement with CSEC and Greencore Power Solutions 3 Inc. to develop, construct and operate a photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Arayat and Mexico, Pampanga.

Scheduled to become operational in November 2021, this solar plant will have an installed nominal capacity of 50-megawatt AC power (MWac). Under the deal, CSEC will have 50 percent of the shares in Greencore, the special purpose vehicle of the solar project, while ACEN and Endevor will hold 45 percent and five percent, respectively.

2GW SOLAR POWER PROJECT TO BE BUILT BY SOLAR PHILIPPINES BIGA CORPORATION Recently the company Solar Philippines Biga Corporation which is a subsidiary of Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings announced that it is planning to build a 2 gigawatts (GW) solar plant with 6GW battery energy storage system and 600 megawatts (MW) diesel backup in Nasugbu, Batangas. This place is 115 kilometres south west of Metro Manila, Philippines. It has received a solar service energy contract from Philippines’ energy department for exclusive right to explore, develop and use the solar energy resources. The project will be developed on an area of 2,000 hectares. The aim is to deliver financial closure of the project in the third quarter of 2022. Construction work is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2022 and complete by the third quarter in 2024.

ASEAN

PHASE 1 OF ALASKA MILK STATION IN THE PHILIPPINES SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTED TO THE GRID With Energy China as the EPC contractor, the Phase I of Alaska Milk Station (3.024MW) in the Philippines has been successfully connected to the grid and officially put into operation. The project is 30 km south to Manila, with a planned capacity of 6.048 MW. It will be built in two phases with a single roof area of 30,000 square meters, making it the largest single roof photovoltaic project in the Philippines.

After completion, the project will supply electricity to the Alaska Milk Plant, a leading dairy producer in the Philippines. Energy China is responsible for the design, procurement, construction, commissioning and other parts of the project.

PEPSI-COLA PRODUCTS PHILIPPINES INC TO SHIFT TO SOLAR POWER FOR ITS MANUFACTURING PLANTS Recently, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc said that in order to reduce dependency on grid electricity produced from fossil fuels, its manufacturing plants would shift to renewable energy. The company said that it signed a deal for the installation of solar panels in its Batangas, Cebu and Davao manufacturing plants. For this, it has tapped India’s SunSource Energy to improve plant electricity cost and minimize the company’s impact on the environment. Pepsi-Cola Philippines is looking at a reduction in the use of grid electricity to up to 30 percent. Solar panel installation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

This shift was the first of three phases of its plan to use solar panels in all of its 12 plants across the country.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 13

PHILIPPINES’ DAR COMPLETES P1-M SOLAR-POWERED IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN ISABELA A P1-million worth of Solar Power Irrigation System (SPIS) project, located at Banquero, Reina Mercedes in the province of Isabela, is now operational after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in partnership with the local government unit of Reina Mercedes, has completed its construction. DARCagayan Valley Regional Director Samuel Solomero said the irrigation system would benefit 39 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB)-members from Reina Mercedes Riverside Farmers Association (RMRFA).

“This project will provide enough water supply to more than five-hectare vegetable farmland managed

by RMRFA. Sufficient water is equivalent to an abundant harvest. More harvest and income for our ARBs would mean that they could contribute to securing food supply in the province,” Solomero said. Solomero revealed that out of P 1-million-peso total project cost, the department will shoulder Php 850,000.00 while the LGU-Reina Mercedes counterpart is P150,000.00 for the drilling and land preparation.

PHILIPPINES POWER CAPACITY EXPECTED TO GROW MORE THAN TWOFOLD BY 2030, SAYS GLOBALDATA The annual power consumption in the Philippines is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 82.5TWh in 2020 to 145.1TWh by 2030. To fulfill its growing power demand, the Philippines government plans to increase its total installed power capacity from 27.6GW in 2020 to 58.4GW in 2030. With no plans for nuclear power development and limited potential of hydropower development, most of the installed capacity is expected to be sourced from thermal power and renewable (excluding hydro) power, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The GlobalData’s report ‘Philippines Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2021 – Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape’ reveals that the Philippines plans to increase its renewable power capacity from 5.3GW in 2020 to 22.2GW by 2030. Similarly, it also plans to increase thermal power capacity from 18.4GW in 2020 to 30.7GW by 2030 driven by coal fired thermal power plants.

ASEAN

PHILIPPINES INCREASES CARBON EMISSION REDUCTION TARGET TO 75% The Philippines said that under its commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, it was revising its target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to a 75% reduction by 2030. This is up from a target of 70% set four years ago. As prescribed by the Paris Agreement, 72.29% is conditional on the support of climate finance, technologies and capacity development provided by developed countries. The remaining 2.71 per cent of the target has to be implemented mainly through domestic resources. In 2017, the Philippines had ratified the agreement allowing Manila access to the Green Climate Fund, which aims to channel billions of dollars to help poor nations tackle global warming.

Malaysia MALAYSIA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY ON THE RIGHT TRACK, SAYS CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS FIRM Although the pandemic has hampered the progress of the global RE industry, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projected that this delay would be temporary, and the use of fossil fuels will see a decrease. Clean energy solutions company, Plus Solar Systems Sdn Bhd believes that government policies, digitalisation and smart grid initiatives will act as growth catalysts in the Malaysian renewable energy (RE) industry. A recent survey by audit firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers showed that 71 per cent of Malaysian businesses attempted to reduce operating expenses to survive pandemic challenges.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 14

JAPAN’S PANASONIC TO DISCONTINUE PV MANUFACTURING IN MALAYSIA

MUFG SPEARHEADS GREEN FINANCING FACILITY FOR 100MW SOLAR PLANT IN MALAYSIA

Japan’s Panasonic Corp recently announced that it will discontinue solar photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing in Malaysia and Japan by March 2022, the end of its fiscal 2021/2022. The company is quitting the solar manufacturing business because of fierce competition from China.

Panasonic has been running a plant in Malaysia where it is producing wafers, cells and PV modules since December 2011. In the summer of 2020, it abandoned a deal for the heterojunction (HIT) solar cell and module production unit with GS-Solar and said it might take legal action against the Chinese firm.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.’s banking subsidiary in Malaysia, MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (MUFG), announced that it acted as mandated lead arranger and sole green structuring advisor for a RM342 million syndicated financing facility for the development of a 100-megawatt solar plant located in Perak, Malaysia. The deal achieved financial closure in December 2020 and is MUFG’s second solar transaction in Malaysia, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s renewable energy development goals and its market leadership in sustainability financing and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) renewables sector.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.’s banking subsidiary in Malaysia, MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (MUFG), announced that it acted as mandated lead arranger and sole green structuring advisor for a RM342 million syndicated financing facility for the development of a 100-megawatt solar plant located in Perak, Malaysia. The deal achieved financial closure in December 2020 and is MUFG’s second solar transaction in Malaysia, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s renewable energy development goals and its market leadership in sustainability financing and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) renewables sector.

UNDER NET METERING ANOTHER 500 MW OF ROOFTOP PV BEING ALLOCATED BY MALAYSIA Recently, Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority (Seda) has started accepting applications for the Net Energy Metering 3.0 program (NEM 3.0). This new scheme has replaced the NEM 2.0 program that was introduced in January 2019 and expired at the end of 2020. The 500MW quota under the NEM 2.0 scheme was fully subscribed by the end of December. This new program will be in force until the end of 2023 and will be aimed at allocating 500 MW of rooftop PV capacity. A total of three different sub-schemes will be used for allocating this quota: the NEM Rakyat program for residential systems, which will allocate 100 MW and grant a net metering tariff over a 10year period; the NEM GoMEn regime for government ministries and public entities, through which another 100 MW will be assigned under the same conditions as the NEM Rakyat; and the 300 MW NEM Nova scheme, or Net Offset Virtual Aggregation, which will enable commercial and industrial PV system owners to sell excess power to the grid at market price or system marginal price (SMP).

MALAYSIA’S ENERGY COMMISSION HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE BIDDERS WHO HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED IN THE FOURTH ROUND

MALAYSIA’S ENERGY COMMISSION SHORTLISTS 823MW OF PV PROJECTS UNDER ITS 1 GW SOLAR TENDER Malaysia’s Energy Commission has recently announced the bidders who have been shortlisted in the fourth round of its Large Scale Solar (LSS) procurement scheme. The tender was undersubscribed. However, the Energy Commission has pre-selected a total of 823.06 MW of projects across two different project categories. The first category comprises 20 projects with a capacity of 10 to 30 MW. Here, the assigned capacity has reached 323.06 MW and the submitted prices range from MYR 0.1850/kWh ($0.049) to MYR 0.2481/kWh. The second category comprises 10 projects with a capacity of 30 to 50 MW. Here, the allocated capacity is 500 MW and the bids range from MYR 0.1768/kWh ($0.0429) to MYR 0.1970/kWh. The shortlisted PV developers hae tvo get their plants connected to the grid by the end of 2023.

OF ITS LARGE SCALE SOLAR (LSS) PROCUREMENT SCHEME."

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 15

CAMBODIA TO ADD THREE SOLAR FARMS IN 2021

INTEL MALAYSIA USES SOLAR ENERGY TO POWER SIX BUILDINGS IN KULIM AND PENANG CAMPUS Intel Malaysia announced that it is using solar energy to power six buildings across the company’s Kulim and Penang campus. This is from a new 3.2 megawatt (MW) solar installation. The solar installation is set up by NEFIN, a renewable energy developer and is achieving 4.1 MW in total installed capacity. This project is Intel’s largest solar farm outside the U.S. Since its start in 2020, the solar farm contributes about 15 percent of Intel’s global, onsite solar photovoltaic electric power capacity. It will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3,800 tons.

Cambodia GOVERNMENT TO BUILD 40MW SOLAR FARM IN KAMPONG CHHNANG, CAMBODIA As per a senior official from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the government will build a 40MW solar farm in Kampong Chhnang province. Victor Jona, director general of the ministry’s General Department of Energy said that the ministry and development partners are preparing the bidding documents submitted for the solar tender. He also said that the 40MW solar power plant is initiated by Asian Development Bank [ADB] which will help prepare the bidding documents too.

The project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of this year. While no concrete location has been determined for the project, he pointed out that the ministry and EdC recently inspected a potential contender for the solar farm’s site. This new solar power plant will help supply electricity to localities in remote areas with a shortage of electricity.

Consistent with government policy, he said the solar farm would provide the rural poor with access to affordable electricity.

ASEAN

According to a senior official at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, three solar farms with a total 120MW of installed capacities are on track to be connected to the national grid by this year’s end.

Victor Jona who is the director-general of the ministry’s General Department of Energy listed the projects as a 60MW solar farm in Battambang province, a 30MW project in Pursat province and another 30MW facility in Banteay Meanchey province. He pointed out that Cambodia plans to expand its clean-energy portfolio to 450MW by the end of next year. Manufacturers require a reasonable electricity pricing strategy that provides the most affordable electricity to boost output, lower production costs, increase sales domestically and internationally and better compete with neighbouring countries’ products. The increase in power supply capacity would further improve energy security for SMEs in Cambodia. This will prove beneficial for business people. Increasing the power supply enough will stabilise electricity, as well as the production capacities. And lower prices will help us producers all the more by trimming production costs.

AFRY WORKING AS OWNER’S ENGINEER IN ONE OF THE FIRST LARGE SOLAR PV PROJECTS IN CAMBODIA AFRY has been working as the owner’s engineer for the 39 MWp Solar PV Power Plant, located in Serei Saophoan, Banteay Meanchey Province in Cambodia, which entered commercial operation on December 15, 2020. This ground-mounted solar photovoltaics project is one of the first large solar PV projects in Cambodia. The project is owned by Ray Power Supply Co., Ltd, a company fully owned

by B. Grimm Power Public Company Limited, Thailand.

AFRY’s assignment has included assistance in project management, design review, and site supervision services during construction and commissioning, and now continues with warranty period services.

INTEL MALAYSIA ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS USING SOLAR ENERGY TO POWER SIX BUILDINGS ACROSS THE COMPANY’S KULIM AND PENANG CAMPUS." APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 16

CAMBODIA’S THREE SOLAR POWER STATIONS READY TO CONNECT TO GRID Victor Jona, the director-general of energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy said that the construction of three solar-generated power stations has been completed, while another project’s construction has fallen behind schedule.

No reason was cited in regards to the failure of the fourth station to meet its scheduled completion.

These projects approved in 2019 were scheduled to begin generating power earlier this year. The three projects are ready to begin generation. These include the 30mW plant in Banteay Meanchey province invested in by Ray Power Supply Co Ltd, the 60mW solar farm in Battambang province owned

by Risen Energy Co Ltd and the 60mW solar station in Pursat province, owned by Schneitec Renewable Co Ltd.

BIDDING FOR 40 MW SOLAR PROJECT IN KAMPONG CHHNANG OPENS The public bidding is now open for a 40 mW solar project in Kampong Chhnang province. The winning bidder will receive financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This project will provide a cumulative power of 100 mW once completed. It is the second stage of the Cambodia National Solar Park. Thai-owned renewable energy company Prime Road Power Co won the bidding process for the first stage, a 60 mW solar power plant. It is being financed by the ADB via a concessionary loan. The first stage’s bidding ended with Prime Road’s lowest bid of $0.3877 per kilowatt-hour being selected.

CAMBODIA’S 60MW BATTAMBANG SOLAR STATION CONNECTED TO GRID Recently, a 60MW solar power station in northern Battambang province was commissioned and connected to the national grid. Located in southwestern Thma Koul district’s Anlong Run commune, it is invested by Shenzhen-listed Risen Energy Co Ltd. Keo Rottanak who is the directorgeneral of state-run electricity supplier Electricite du Cambodge (EdC), said the project was part of 450MW of solar power planned to be hooked up to the national grid by 2022. The solar farm was linked to the national grid system via a 20 km-long transmission line. The company has signed a purchase agreement with EdC at $0.076 per kilowatt-hour. The solar project is on Build-OwnOperate basis under a 20-year concession agreement with the state-run energy supplier.

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 17

LYS ENERGY GROUP CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORTING SINGAPORE GREEN PLAN 2030

Singapore TNB EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL RE FOOTPRINT WITH SINGAPORE’S SUNSEAP GROUP Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) through its whollyowned subsidiary, TNB Renewables Sdn. Bhd., has entered into a binding term sheet of collaboration with Singapore-based Sunseap Group to tap into the renewable energy (RE) and Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) market in Singapore. The collaboration is an important milestone for the expansion of TNB’s international RE footprint into SouthEast Asia. At present, TNB’s total RE portfolio consists of 2,732.3MW in Malaysia (including 2,536.1MW of large hydro) and 666MW across the UK, Turkey and India comprising mainly solar, wind and hydro energy generation assets.In line with Reimagining TNB’s strategy to grow renewable energy capacity under the Future Generation Sources strategic pillar, TNB aims to grow its overall RE portfolio to 8,300MW by 2025 (including large hydro). TNB’s partner in this venture, Sunseap, is one of the top solar rooftop companies in South East Asia and the largest solar company in Singapore with a fully integrated solar business including presence in the energy retail segment. It has a net capacity of 1.2GW across 11 markets and more than 200 assets in various stages of development. Sunseap has a track record of securing long-term Corporate PPAs with the likes of big-named clients such as Microsoft and Facebook.

ASEAN

Singapore prospects to develop into a carbon service hub. The Republic will ramp up its sustainability drive, calling nationwide collaborative efforts to set “ambitious and concrete targets” under a new initiative called the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The initiative intends to increase its renewable energy (RE) deployment at national and business levels. Low-carbon alternatives, such as solar, are critical for a long-term approach to sustainability. With the Government’s every intent of opting on energy supply ‘switches’ for sustainable developments, private sectors are more inclined to seek partnership, to foster climate change mitigation. Since 2013, LYS Energy Group is proud to be supporting the National clean energy deployment. In their efforts towards the Energy Transition, they will press on to contributing to the Singapore Green Plan 2030 — which outlines the solar target of 2 GWp by 2030 and will continue to collaborate with their supportive Partners to make this happen.

EXTRA SPACE ASIA EXPANDS INTO SOLAR-ENERGY INITIATIVE IN SINGAPORE WITH LYS ENERGY Recently, the company – Extra Space Asia (ESA), a privately owned business that operates self-storage facilities across Asia, said that it will add two more facilities to its solar-power initiative in Singapore.

The company has partnered with LYS Energy Group to install rooftop photovoltaic systems at its Ang Mo Kio and Eunos Link locations, which are expected to annually offset 164 and 207 tons of CO2 emissions, respectively, for the next 20 years. LYS Energy is into solar-photovoltaic systems for commercial, industrial and public sites across the Asia-Pacific region. Whereas, ESA opened its first self-storage location in Singapore in 2007 and now operates more than 50 facilities across Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. Its portfolio comprises more than 1.5 million square feet of storage space.

TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD (TNB) THROUGH ITS WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY, TNB RENEWABLES SDN."

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 18

SEMBCORP GROWS RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO WITH 82 MEGAWATT-PEAK OF SOLAR PROJECT WINS

SINGAPORE MOE TO MAKE ITS SCHOOLS SOLAR EQUIPPED Singapore’s Ministry of Education(MOE) plans to reach its target of getting at least 20 percent of schools to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Progressively equipping schools with solar panels over the next decade is one way the Ministry of Education (MOE) plans to do this. MOE is also working towards a twothirds reduction of net carbon emissions from the schools sector by 2030. This target was first announced in February at the unveiling of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. MOE will start by piloting sustainability features and related concepts in four schools – Elias Park Primary School, Mee Toh School, Commonwealth Secondary School and Tampines Secondary School as these schools have already adopted a holistic school-wide approach to sustainability. Further work will be done with them to reduce net carbon emissions from the school buildings, and to encourage students to actively reduce their individual carbon footprint.

SOLAR PV SOLE DRIVER FOR RENEWABLE POWER IN SINGAPORE, SAYS GLOBALDATA Singapore is increasingly relying on solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment to achieve clean energy targets as the resource-constrained country has limited renewable energy options. As a result, the installation of rooftop PV systems on public housing has become one of the prominent drivers for the growth of solar PV in the country, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Singapore Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2020 – Market Trends, Regulations, and Competitive Landscape’, reveals that solar PV capacity of Singapore, which was negligible in 2015, increased to 0.4GW by 2020. The country has already started moving towards its next ambition of reaching at least 2GW of solar energy by 2030, which would be enough to power about 350,000 households. For future growth, the country is increasingly investing in floating solar energy R&D initiatives.

ASEAN

Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) is pleased to announce the growth of its renewable energy portfolio with new solar project awards totalling 82 megawatt-peak (MWp). Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sembcorp Solar Singapore (Sembcorp Solar), Sembcorp is awarded a 60MWp solar energy project by the Housing & Development Board (HDB) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Since January 2021, the company has also won other commercial solar deals totalling 22.3MWp. This includes a SolarRoof Phase 2 project awarded by JTC Corporation (JTC) to build a 17.4MWp solar system on the rooftops of 48 JTC buildings, targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of this year. With these awards, Sembcorp’s portfolio in Singapore has now grown to 362.3MWp2 of solar power capacity in operation and under development.

HDB SINGAPORE LAUNCHES SIXTH SOLARNOVA TENDER WITH SMART ELECTRICAL SUB-METERS TO OPTIMISE ENERGY USE The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has called the sixth solar leasing tender under the SolarNova programme, led jointly with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

The latest tender, with a solar capacity of 70 megawatt-peak (MWp), aggregates public sector demand for the installation of solar panels across 1,198 HDB blocks and 57 government sites. As part of this tender, vendors will be required to install smart electrical sub-meters at HDB blocks to track energy usage. Including this SolarNova tender, HDB has committed a total solar capacity of 330 MWp for 6,901 HDB blocks. This is equivalent to powering 82,500 4-room flats with solar energy, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 198,000 tonnes per year and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.

THE COUNTRY HAS ALREADY STARTED MOVING TOWARDS ITS NEXT AMBITION OF REACHING AT LEAST 2GW OF SOLAR ENERGY BY 2030."

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 19

all. Sunseap is well positioned to tap growth opportunities at home and abroad.”

SINGAPORE’S SUNSEAP COMPLETES ONE OF WORLD’S LARGEST OFFSHORE FLOATING SOLAR FARMS IN JOHOR STRAITS

AMAZON ANNOUNCES 62 MW SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT, IT’S FIRST IN SINGAPORE Amazon’s fifth utility-scale renewable energy project in the Asia Pacific region is part of its commitment to investing in solar and wind projects globally.

Amazon is the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, and they have announced their first renewable energy project in Singapore, a 62 megawatt (MW) solar project made up of a series of solar panels mounted on a ground system. A benefit of ground-mounted solar is the ability to optimally position the system to capture sun exposure as weather conditions change. When complete in 2022, the project will be among the largest aggregated movable solar energy systems designed and installed in Singapore, and it will contribute net-new renewable energy to the national electricity grid. The project is expected to generate 80,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean energy annually, enough to power more than 10,000 homes in Singapore.

SUNSEAP SECURES EQUITY INVESTMENT FROM DUBAI’S DUTCO GROUP IN SERIES E FUNDING Sunseap Group, Singapore’s leading solar energy provider, said it has secured an equity investment from Dubai-based conglomerate, Dutco, in its Series E funding. The proceeds will be deployed to Sunseap’s future solar projects in Singapore and the region. Welcoming its latest investor, Sunseap CoFounder and CEO Frank Phuan said: “We are gratified to have a quality investor like Dutco having confidence in our business model and our ability to execute. The investment will help to take us to our next phase of growth where growing awareness of climate change, shifts in regulatory priorities and technological advances, have all combined to make renewable energy an attractive and viable option for

ASEAN

Sunseap Group, Singapore’s leading solar energy provider, announced that it has completed the installation of one of the world’s largest floating solar farms on sea water in the Straits of Johor.

Sunseap said the floating solar farm at Woodlands took close to a year to set up amid movement restrictions during the Covid-19 lockdown. It involved a total of 13,312 panels, 40 inverters and more than 30,000 floats. The installation is expected to produce an estimated 6,022,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per year, potentially offsetting an estimated 4,258 tons of carbon dioxide, bringing Singapore closer to decarbonisation. The solar farm is equipped with electrical panels, control systems and a 22kV transformer. It is also a landing point for the subsea cable that transmits the generated power to the national grid. The floating PV system is designed with a robust constant tension mooring system that is able to withstand changing weather conditions, keeping the platform and all of the operational equipment on board steady. There is also an airconditioned second deck that doubles-up as a visitor centre and viewing gallery.

SUNSEAP AND FACEBOOK SIGN MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR SOLAR ENERGY FROM SINGAPORE’S LARGEST OFFSHORE FLOATING PROJECT Sunseap Group has signed a multi-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Facebook for solar energy from the Republic’s largest offshore floating solar farm in the Straits of Johor. The energy from the five MWp offshore floating photovoltaic system will be exported to the national grid. All renewable energy credits (RECs) from the project will be transferred to Facebook under the VPPA and will support the tech company’s operations in Singapore, including Facebook’s first custom-built data centre in Asia. The agreement signed with Facebook is Sunseap’s second VPPA with the tech company since October 2020— Sunseap and Facebook also have an agreement for renewable energy exported from solar systems installed on more than 1,200 rooftops.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 20

Empowering High Growth.

launched new exclusive publication for Energy Storage Industry

For Advertising Opportunities, Contact: Smriti Singh, Mob: +91 7718877514, Email: smriti@firstviewgroup.com For Editorial Participation, Contact: Sangita Shetty, Mob: +91 88505 69133, Email: editorial@firstviewgroup.com

INCONVERSATION

Samridh Goyal Founder & CEO,

Solar Horizon Pte. Ltd. In an exclusive interview with SolarQuarter ASEAN magazine, Mr. Samridh Goyal - Founder & CEO, Solar Horizon Pte. Ltd. gives us insights into the initiatives, policies and schemes driving the rooftop solar sector in South East Asia. He also talks about emerging financing options and his company’s latest technological advancements and rooftop projects.

1

WHAT ARE SOME CURRENT INITIATIVES, POLICIES AND SCHEMES DRIVING THE ROOFTOP SOLAR SECTOR IN SOUTH EAST ASIA?

The growth of SE Asia' s vibrant rooftop solar sector is largely driven by the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) sector. Campaigns such as "RE100" are enabling an increasing number of corporations to adopt 100% Renewable Energy goals with 70% of respondents citing cost savings among top three drivers. (RE100 Report 2020).

ASEAN

Governments, too, are recognizing the benefits of promoting rooftop solar as an important contribution to achieve national climate targets, and are working hand-in-hand with the private sector to streamline policies and implement solar friendly regulatory frameworks.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 22

Singapore' s recently announced ' Green Plan' targeting 1.5 Gigawatt-Peak (GWp) of installed Solar PV by 2025- effectively a three-fold increase from 0.5 GWp today- has spurred a notable increase in C&I demand while attracting sizable foreign direct investment into this robust sector.

Along with aggregating public buildings such as housing blocks and schools to create demand, the Government has also demarcated large swathes of it' s reservoirs for Floating PV farms, thus creating more space for solar generation in land-scarce Singapore. Innovative Net-Metering schemes in the region have been designed to incentivise building owners to maximise rooftop space to install PV systems, without limiting the system size to be lower than their actual consumption. In Indonesia, under ' PLN Regulation MEMR 50' , the national utility, PLN, offers rooftop solar generators a 65% bill offset on excess solar energy that is exported back to the grid (equivalent to its base electricity generation cost). In Malaysia,the recently launched ' NOVA' program, allows a ' Virtual Offset" where nondomestic consumers with rooftop systems in one premise can utilise exported solar energy to virtually offset their bills at another location.

2

ARE THERE ANY EMERGING FINANCING OPTIONS FOR SOLAR PROJECTS IN THE REGION? WHICH ONES WOULD YOU LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT?

As the dynamic SE Asian rooftop solar industry continues to mature and grow exponentially, there are emerging new business models that offer creative new financing and avenues for both adopters and developers. Several banks have launched standardized Solar loan programs for C&I adopters across the region that provide up to 70% financing for PV systems ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000+ at attractive rates, and that too, in local currency. For example, Singaporean bank UOB' s ' U-Solar' program was rolled out in Singapore in 2018, and has since expanded across Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Additionally, there has been a notable uptick in private placement and even crowdfunding platforms that are bridging the gap for relatively smaller scale debt financing on a non-recourse basis that is much needed for rooftop C&I Developers. While these structures may be relatively more expensive, they do offer flexibility in early-repayment terms, thus offering the Developer a stepping stone to a larger portfolio based refinancing from a bigger lender.

SINGAPORE'S RECENTLY ANNOUNCED 'GREEN PLAN' TARGETING 1.5 GIGAWATT-PEAK (GWP) OF INSTALLED SOLAR PV BY 2025- EFFECTIVELY A THREE-FOLD INCREASE FROM 0.5 GWP TODAY- HAS SPURRED A NOTABLE INCREASE IN C&I DEMAND WHILE ATTRACTING SIZABLE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT INTO THIS ROBUST SECTOR."

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 23

3

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME RECENT ROOFTOP PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN

BY YOUR COMPANY SOLAR HORIZON IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION?

Solar Horizon (' SH' ) is an independent Solar Developer based in Singapore since 2013, with clients including major government linked and multinational companies. We are fully focused on C&I rooftop with a strong, local presence in Singapore and active development platforms in Malaysia & Indonesia. We' ve delivered over $15M of PPA projects to solar investors so far, and have recently signed a co-development and investment partnership with a major US Developer to expand our portfolio in SE Asia.

We completed one of our flagship projects last year just before the peak of the pandemic. We developed, financed & installed a multi-megawatt PV System under an onsite PPA for a

datacenter owned by a leading Telco carrier in Singapore. This project covered almost two football fields on a single rooftop, powering the equivalent of 460 four-room apartments per year! A key challenge was resolving the issue on the relatively short remaining site lease (and therefore PPA) tenure. SH worked closely with the various stakeholders to find a ' win-win-win' tariff structure, while reducing project execution cost by over 10% from initial forecast to make the economic model work. Our signature consortium approach of uniting best-in-class local partners under a single development platform, was the key in overcoming this challenge, and the differentiating factor in SH being awarded this prestigious project.

OUR SIGNATURE CONSORTIUM APPROACH OF UNITING BEST-IN-CLASS LOCAL PARTNERS UNDER A SINGLE DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM, WAS THE KEY IN OVERCOMING THIS CHALLENGE, AND THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IN SH BEING AWARDED THIS PRESTIGIOUS PROJECT."

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 24

Another interesting project we developed was for a water Theme Park in Bali, Indonesia. This was the island' s first Solar Rental project - essentially a thirdparty financed leasing model - and was developed under a consortium approach with a local EPC contractor and Investor. The system was spread across multiple buildings over the park and helped offset approximately 10% of its daily consumption.

The project was featured on national television as part of the park' s sustainability efforts and helped enhance the overall campaign and impact.

cells and panels. The emergence of bi-facial PV panels has been an interesting trend that has narrowed the price gap to less than 2-3% of traditional monofacial panels. Given that bifacial panels replace the traditional EVA module backsheets with a glass layer, there is added guaranteed lifespan of up to 30 years (vs 25 years of mono-facials) and lower annual degradation of 0.45% (vs 0.55%). By adopting the latest panel technology, our projects yield almost 5% higher generation over the lifecycle, thus creating better returns for our investors and increased savings for our customers.

5

LASTLY, PLEASE TELL US HOW YOU SEE SOLAR HORIZON CONTRIBUTING TO THE RENEWABLE SECTOR IN SOUTH EAST ASIA OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?

Solar Horizon is committed to helping the C&I sector in SE Asia achieve their clean energy goals by harnessing the vast rooftop solar potential from assets across the region. Our vision is to help unlock and harness several hundred megawatts of rooftop Solar potential from the private sector over the next 5 years. We believe that knowledge is the key to helping C&I adopters make the right decisions on going solar and hence conduct regular ' knowledge-sharing' seminars (well, more webinars these days..) explaining the A to Z of rooftop solar mechanics and economics. We also help MNCs to develop their regional solar programs - from assessing commercial & technical feasibility across their portfolio to guiding them with best practises to maximise value from their procurement efforts based on our considerable industry & market experience.

4

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING WITH TIME. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS MADE BY YOUR COMPANY RECENTLY?

Finally, we' re also committed to helping global solar investors enter and expand in SE Asia through our independent development platform, by leveraging our regional partner network, project pipeline and industry experience. We believe that by combining global financing expertise with local market knowledge, we can create an innovative and effective ' Glocal' platform to help drive the rooftop solar revolution forward in SE Asia!

Indeed, Solar technology is making consistent advances in both efficiency and cost. The phasing out of polysilicon PV panels over the last 3 years has created a level playing field for monocrystalline

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 25

INCONVERSATION

Deepak Khetarpal COO

South East Asia, SunSource Energy In an exclusive interview with SolarQuarter ASEAN magazine, Deepak Khetarpal, COO - South East Asia at SunSource Energy, gave great insights on solar progression in the region. He spoke about the recent practices for O&M and asset management in Singapore’s rooftop solar and the importance of digital technology. He also discussed how SunSource is contributing towards the region’s overall solar development.

1

HOW HAS THE SOLAR SECTOR PROGRESSED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA?

Solar PV sector has progressed well in the South East Asia (SEA) region over the last few years.

Singapore and Thailand have met their targets of 2020 and 2021 respectively; Philippines did add around 1 GW capacity before ending its FiT policy in 2016/17 and Vietnam has recently added a huge

ASEAN

capacity of around 15 GW, much beyond its targets.

With the current overall installed capacity of around 20 GWp, it is safe to say that the region has done really well. However, a few countries are still lagging behind despite a huge technical and commercial potential.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 26

Progress in the rooftop PV segment has also been steady despite lack of favoring policies such as net-metering in most of the countries in the region. Broad economic fundamentals and/or rising retail electricity tariff are pushing forward the business case for the rooftop PV segment.

This segment will continue to expand in the future.

2

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THE RECENT KEY PRACTICES BEING FOLLOWED IN SINGAPORE FOR O&M AND ASSET MANAGEMENT IN ROOFTOP SOLAR.

One of the key practices that we follow is to have a centralized National Operating Centre (NOC) which remotely gathers data from all of our assets at one platform through SCADA and monitoring systems. It is a real time monitoring system with data coming in from sites at 5- or 15-minute intervals, automated flags and alarms for interventions as required, and data insights being created on a daily basis. Data insights are used to enhance asset performance and predictive maintenance to ensure asset health in the long run. Analysis of large data sets and ticket management records are used to refine or update the preventive maintenance policies, spares and contractor management activities and dashboards on an ongoing basis. We are also experimenting with AI based data analysis as well as on-sight technologies such as dry and/or water based robotic cleaning systems and on-site array health measurements.

3

HOW IS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY PLAYING A ROLE IN SOLAR PROGRESSION IN SE ASIA?

Digital technologies have already penetrated the solar PV industry with current focus on the O&M or Asset Management aspect of it. From remote monitoring to predictive maintenance, there are many activities or functions that are now being done with the help of digital technologies. Deeper the depth of remote monitoring, higher is the intervention of digital technologies – finally resulting in utilization and making of massive volume of data. This brings Big Data phenomenon into play providing insights regarding predictive/preventive maintenance, weather patterns etc.

Further, drones equipped with data-analytics ability are used for visual/IR imaging of solar modules and check the status of other PV components. Data from drones is also directly transferred to the cloud for later access and analysis.

Actually, the scope of digital technologies is quite wide. By providing services from fault/ticketing management to overall automated plant performance diagnosis & control, digital technologies are actually playing a pivotal role in reducing the cost of operations in the long term and also increasing the assets performance.

ONE OF THE KEY PRACTICES THAT WE FOLLOW IS TO HAVE A CENTRALIZED NATIONAL OPERATING CENTRE (NOC) WHICH REMOTELY GATHERS DATA FROM ALL OF OUR ASSETS AT ONE PLATFORM THROUGH SCADA AND MONITORING SYSTEMS."

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 27

4

HOW IS SUNSOURCE ENERGY CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS SOLAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION?

SunSource Energy entered the region as an EPC player building utility scale solar PV projects in the Philippines. Subsequently, sticking to its strategic direction, SunSource Energy started building rooftop PV projects in the country. Following the successful entry in the Philippines, we devised our overall strategy for the region and entered Thailand and Vietnam markets, maintaining its focus on the rooftop PV segment. Another important component of the strategy was to become a developer/investor rather than just an EPC player.

Today SunSource Energy has delivered projects for many companies including Robinsons, Pepsi, Linde, etc. We are emerging as a developer of choice for many ‘Fortune 500’ or large companies in the region and are in discussion with them to develop their regional portfolio. We are responsible for avoiding around 50 thousand MT of carbon emission every year in the region and this number will double in about a years’ time.

TODAY SUNSOURCE ENERGY HAS DELIVERED PROJECTS FOR MANY COMPANIES INCLUDING ROBINSONS, PEPSI, LINDE, ETC. WE ARE EMERGING AS A DEVELOPER OF CHOICE FOR MANY ‘FORTUNE 500’ OR LARGE COMPANIES IN THE REGION AND ARE IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR REGIONAL PORTFOLIO.

ASEAN

5

LASTLY, PLEASE TELL US HOW YOU THINK THE SOLAR SECTOR IS GOING TO GROW IN THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

COVID has definitely impacted the overall growth in the South East Asia (SEA) region. However, trade is picking up and economic fundamentals are looking to return toward normalcy. A mix of both consumption and production-based economies in the region has been helping in keeping the balance and ensuring a reasonable growth in the future. This will help the solar PV sector to see steady growth in the near future.

Talking specifically about the solar sector, Singapore has recently set up a huge target for solar PV installations by 2030; Malaysia has been following a steady path over development of the solar PV sector in the country; Thailand and Vietnam provide big potential for industrial rooftop PV projects and other countries which have lagged behind till now offers a huge untapped potential in both utility scale and rooftop PV segment.

The region is on a typical solar learning curve trajectory and the cost of solar power is coming down as installations are growing. Recent swell in Vietnam has really helped the cause. In all likelihood the trend is going to continue and takers or adopters of solar power will keep on growing.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 28

INSIGHTS RISE AND SHINE OF SOLAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid economic process and development, paired up with rising population and urbanization, and improved access to basic services. However, this rapid expansion poses significant energy challenges and raises serious questions on the environment' s long-term viability. The countries are now turning to solar energy to meet their energy demands. The article unfolds the various aspects of the journey of solar in Southeast Asian countries.

OVERVIEW Southeast Asia' s energy consumption nearly doubled between 1995 and 2015, rising at a 3.4% annual rate. This has fueled economic growth and allowed for higher living standards to be achieved.

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Vietnam have seen the most rapid development in the last decade.

Oil and natural gas, in particular, account for more than half of the region' s energy supply. Crude oil and its derivatives are primarily used in the transportation market, which has experienced rapid growth in fuel demand. To reduce the dependency on the same, experienced industry analysts have recognized and acknowledged the transforming developments and fall in costs of solar power.

SOUTHEAST ASIA IS QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING SOLAR ENERGY MARKETS IN THE WORLD, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING REGIONS FOR THE INDUSTRY'S GLOBAL EXPANSION." ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 29

GROWTH TRENDS Southeast Asia is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets in the world, as well as one of the most promising regions for the industry' s global expansion. Different countries in the Southeast Asian cluster have changing and varying market shares in the overall solar market. In 2019, Vietnam and Malaysia were at the forefront of this trend, having installed the most recent and largest PV capacity in the region. Availability of solar resources and a bunch of solar related policies have accelerated the adoption of solar in the region.

Moreover, the region’s policymakers are also trying to come up with innovative and creative policies for ensuring that the solar sector in the region is not only healthy in the long run but it is also beneficial for the citizens in the times to come. For the same, promotional activities in terms of investment and infrastructure in the solar power generation industry is growing and is expected to grow in the future too.

MOREOVER, THE REGION’S POLICYMAKERS ARE ALSO TRYING TO COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE POLICIES FOR ENSURING THAT THE SOLAR SECTOR IN THE REGION IS NOT ONLY HEALTHY IN THE LONG RUN BUT IT IS ALSO BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITIZENS IN THE TIMES TO COME."

FUTURE ASPECTS Despite historical differences in growth, solar is poised for strong long-term growth in Southeast Asia, thanks to steadily falling solar costs and the region' s vast solar resource and increasing electricity demand. Support for solar energy should continue to grow throughout the region as solar costs continue to fall and the security benefits of solar energy are realized. The need to develop and efficiently incorporate initiatives to drive costs as low as possible by the means of auctions and further streamline project planning processes and permitting requirements are some things that the government should work on. Furthermore, for more rapid development, the cost effective integration of solar’s intermittent production into electricity grids is another factor to concentrate on for long term sustainability.

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 30

COVID-19 IMPACT The planet had not yet recovered from the pandemic when the year 2021 began. Energy transformation was already on the rise in Southeast Asian countries before the Covid-19 pandemic. The flaws of this fossil fuel-based economy have been revealed by the pandemic. The Asian Development Bank reduced its earlier forecasts for Southeast Asia' s GDP growth in 2020 in a September 2020 update to reflect large declines in consumption, investment, and trade. The economy of the region is now forecasted to contract by 3.8% in 2020, with eight out of the region' s 11 countries experiencing negative growth.

In order to reduce carbon emissions with cheaper technologies and economies of scale, the region has invested heavily in clean energy infrastructure.

After COVID-19, many stakeholders would need to respond quickly and cooperatively, including national and local government officials, financial institutions, power delivery providers, grid operators, and energy users. Leaders must resolve immediate socio-economic issues that have emerged as a result of, or have been intensified by, the current economic and public health crisis, including economic slowdown, record-high unemployment, high energy prices, and health threats.

ASEAN

CONCLUSION The Southeast Asian energy sector is at a fork in the road. Despite variations in the maturity and structure of the sector across countries, as well as different patterns of consumption and supply, the entire region is experiencing rising energy demand as a result of rapid economic growth. By working on some of the above-mentioned challenges, solar continues to be an attractive option when compared to other conventional plants.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 31

INSIGHTS

OPPORTUNITY

IEEFA REPORT SAYS VIETNAM’S PDP8 PAUSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE MARKET STRUCTURES

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 32

COST-EFFECTIVE RENEWABLES DEPLOYMENT CAN UNLOCK BETTER PRICING FOR EVN

challenges should be seen as inevitable in the first stages of the clean energy transition pathway, not as a reason to halt progress. If enabled, renewables will continue to deliver on the upside with a new focus on rooftop solar and offshore wind.

THE SECTOR WAS KICKThe past 12 months have been a period of intense activity for Vietnam’s power sector. The planning process surrounding the Power Development Master Plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2045 (PDP8) has dominated headlines as project sponsors have scoured the country to confirm business partners, project sites, and potential allies in advance of a sign off from top government officials that was expected at the end of March, the last days of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s administration. This has resulted in a highly public lobbying process as project sponsors and relevant officials jockeyed for attention to raise the profile of potential projects.

The process hit an unexpected delay in late March, however, as the approval process for finalizing PDP8 was extended through June, raising important questions about how policymakers will contend with the rapidly shifting energy sector landscape.

The intensity of the lobbying process is a fair reflection of the scale of the business opportunities and the expectation that PDP8 will set Vietnam’s power development program for the next 20 years.Vietnam remains South East Asia’s most attractive energy growth market, with 68GW of new capacity expected to be added to the system between now and 2030 under a base case scenario.

THE RISE OF RENEWABLES The high stakes debate about gas is playing out just as MOIT has begun to reap the benefits of a rapid build-out of renewable power projects over the past two years. The sector was kick-started by successful feed-in-tariff (FiT) programs that enhance Vietnam’s energy self-sufficiency by tapping into the country’s attractive solar and wind resources. It’s hard to overstate how much Vietnam’s strategic power options have changed as a result. The rapid buildout of rooftop solar capacity in late 2020 has lifted non-hydro renewables penetration to a quarter of Vietnam’s 70GW power system. In the first three months of 2021, despite curtailment, renewable power still contributed to 13.1% of total system output, up from just 5% in 2020.1 With renewables filling critical supply gaps, new system management

ASEAN

STARTED BY SUCCESSFUL FEED-INTARIFF (FIT) PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE VIETNAM’S ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY TAPPING INTO THE COUNTRY’S ATTRACTIVE SOLAR AND WIND RESOURCES."

THE OPPORTUNITY With so many market fundamentals evolving rapidly, Vietnam has a unique opportunity to use this pause to maximum advantage. In addition to focusing on price discovery, a second priority should be placed on investment choices that will expand, rather than restrict, options to integrate new technologies as they are proven in the marketplace. There are three basic steps that MOIT can take that would put the PDP8 process on safer footing and improve the government’s ability to win the right terms from developers. The key is to foster, rather than eliminate, competition between renewable and fossil fuel players by taking the following steps: 1. Increase the efficiency of existing generation assets with targeted grid investments. Near-term, to reduce the pressure to lock-in potentially

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 33

reflects positive cost curve dynamics by creating incentives for renewables developers to make investments that will reduce curtailment risk while also benefiting the system. Auctions for bundled new renewables plus storage projects will do just this. If this were paired with the development of storage and an ancillary services market, Vietnam would be well positioned to motivate long-term players who can grow with the market and source competitive offshore green financing.

uncompetitive projects, prioritize critical investments in the grid that will increase the efficiency of the existing generation fleet and increase the output from strategically positioned new renewable assets. This effort would help stabilize the grid and support the push for more favorable contract terms in the future, if MOIT can point to more supportive funding strategies from the multilateral development banks or innovative credit enhancement strategies that will accommodate diverse sources of power and storage.

2. Commit to an early round of auctions for renewables bundled with storage to encourage competition and reduce curtailment risk. The rapid build out of renewable capacity over the past two years has positioned Vietnam to now benefit from significantly improved pricing from experienced incumbent players, provided that curtailment risk can be controlled. EVN has sent out an early warning of renewables power curtailment ranging from 180 million kWh to 400 million kWh per month in the latter half of this year. The cause is a combination of 500kV grid upgrading and system overcapacity amid the rainy season. This disruption will come at a cost for existing renewables developers that have PPA terms, leaving them exposed to market risk unlike their fossil fuel counterparts with guaranteed contract payments.

Moving forward, MOIT has an excellent opportunity to get better pricing that

3. All players should take market risk. Vietnam’s power market offers developers an attractive mix of risk-adjusted returns. The project development process is complex but MOIT has steadily improved the market structure and growth-oriented developers see opportunities in Vietnam that are hard to replicate elsewhere, particularly in the LNG and renewables sectors. It’s now time for MOIT to feel confident that investment in the Vietnamese power market does not require generous guarantees that rob the market of dispatch flexibility. The positive experience with renewables makes it clear that the demand for guaranteed take-or-pay fuel contracts and power offtake agreements from some LNG developers is nothing more than a negotiating gambit. The global energy majors seeking to enter Vietnam’s LNG market are experts at managing fuel risks—as evidenced by their trading profits. Given that the leading renewables developers regularly take market risk in Vietnam, it’s time for a level playing field that ensures that all developers and their key suppliers are focused on affordability for Vietnamese consumers. If MOIT were to use this pause to establish expectations based on these principles, the market would have more confidence about the rules that will govern PDP8 implementation. This would significantly improve the prospects for effective price discovery and support better alignment with bankable developers.

The building blocks above would set in motion a constructive dynamic based on market incentives: Accelerated grid investment can be used to unlock better pricing for renewable power.

Deflationary pricing from increasingly cost competitive renewables and storage projects can be used to unlock better terms on LNG-topower projects capable of supplying a more dynamic and flexible power market.

Then, enhanced market design strategies can be used to improve price discovery from project developers and funders.

In the meantime, Vietnam’s macroplanners and MOIT should embrace the economic potential of scalable low carbon assets, and recognize that it is renewables, not LNG, that sets the standard for the most sought-after global companies.

SOURCE : IEEFA

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 34

INSIGHTS FLOATING SOLAR OUTLOOK IN SINGAPORE

Singapore, despite being one of the world' s smallest countries, has a significant pollution crisis that greatly contributes to the global climate issue.

Moving with the world, Singapore is also turning to renewable and clean energy sources. Singapore has placed its entire reliance on solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment in pursuit of a renewable and sustainable energy source for the future. Since environmental restrictions and lack of land make wind and hydropower production difficult, the country is placing a large bet on solar PV installations.

PRESENT CAPACITY To increase renewable energy supply and reduce carbon emissions, Singapore is relying on floating solar farms and vertical panels, a model that greatly works in other densely populated cities. Looking at the present scenario, thousands of gleaming solar panels extend into the sea off the coast of Singapore, part of the city’s effort to develop floating solar farms to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. At present, Singapore' s primary tool for solar PV development is the government' s SolarNova scheme.

This scheme aims to consistently auction renewable energy on a regular basis. A total of five phases were completed between 2015 and 2020, awarding nearly 296 megawatts (MW) of power. 60 MW of power was awarded in the fifth round, which took place last year. This ability is planned to be built through 1,154 HDB blocks and 46 government sites.

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 35

PLANNED INSTALLATION Singapore is now focusing its efforts on the next target, which is to generate at least 2 Gigawatts (GW) of solar energy by 2030, enough to power about 350,000 households. The country is growing its investment in floating solar energy research and development (R&D) initiatives in order to support future growth. Singapore' s government declared in 2020 that it will reduce its carbon emissions to 65 million tons per year after ten years, then slash them in half by 2050. It also announced “The Singapore Green Plan 2030,” which includes a target of reducing waste by 20% by 2026, the installation of 60K electric vehicle charging stations within 10 years, and the elevation of green building standards.

Between now and 2030, Singapore is planned to add 1.2 GW of new power capacity. Almost all of this power is expected to come from SolarNova-awarded new solar PV installations. This also assists the government in meeting its commitment to reduce emissions intensity by 36% by 2030 compared to the levels of 2005.

TO INCREASE RENEWABLE ENERGY SUPPLY AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS, SINGAPORE IS RELYING ON FLOATING SOLAR FARMS AND VERTICAL PANELS, A MODEL THAT GREATLY WORKS IN OTHER DENSELY POPULATED CITIES."

ASEAN

THE COUNTRY IS GROWING ITS INVESTMENT IN FLOATING SOLAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) INITIATIVES IN ORDER TO SUPPORT FUTURE GROWTH.

NEED FOR FLOATING SOLAR The Southeast Asian cluster of countries lacks certain natural resources like sufficient land area, and climatic conditions needed for large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources in comparison to larger countries. This makes it incredibly difficult for Southeast Asian countries to achieve net-zero global warming emissions.

Despite its status as a financial centre, Singapore faces an unenviable challenge in terms of clean energy implementation. The small country lacks fast-moving rivers for hydropower, and the region' s wind is not powerful enough to fuel turbines all year.

The above-mentioned reasons have forced Singapore to turn to solar energy for its energy needs. After the exhaustion of rooftops and lands, for the building of solar farms, the government moved onto building panels at sea and on its reservoirs. Despite these efforts, critics think that the country needs to strategically think and work more on the grounds to curb climate change as Singapore is a leading financial hub and early adopter of new technologies that will invariably set a precedent for many other countries when it comes to dealing with global climate related issues.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 36

CONCLUSION Singapore' s solar drive is about more than just supplying green electricity. It is also about generating jobs, economic value, and new ideas.

The new developments would not only address Singapore' s problems, but they would also open up possibilities for other megacities. The above discussion makes it clear that Singapore’s decision to rely on floating solar capacity to reduce its reliance on conventional methods of energy is beneficial for the entire world at large.

THE SINGAPORE GREEN PLAN 2030,” WHICH INCLUDES A TARGET OF REDUCING WASTE BY 20% BY 2026,

BENEFITS

THE INSTALLATION OF

Floating solar has several distinct advantages over land-based solar PV systems due to its nature. Due to its performance and positive effect on the marine ecosystem underneath, floating solar is beneficial in both a financial and environmental context. The potential cost savings and generation efficiency of floating solar is at the core of these advantages.

One of the major advantages of floating solar is that it does not necessitate the use of expensive land space, which can be costly and even invasive depending on the project. Other uses of land, such as agricultural methods, may be retained.

ASEAN

60K ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS WITHIN 10 YEARS, AND THE ELEVATION OF GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS."

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 37

FEATUREDTALKS

Andrew Gilhooly Assistant Director

TrinaPro Business APAC, Trina Solar

TrinaTracker can provide our intelligent tracker controller (known as SuperTrack) which utilises machine learning functionality to maximise yield, and has been independently verified by CGC Group to deliver more than 3% more kWh/kWp

1

PLEASE HELP OUR READERS UNDERSTAND TRINA BIFACIAL + TRACKER SOLUTIONS.

Trina was the first mover into large format modules and we are the only unique module manufacturer in the industry to provide an integrated PV and tracker solution. Accordingly, as compared to our module and tracker competitors, we have the visibility and understand the complexities and engineering challenges in successfully accommodating these

ASEAN

large format modules into a single axis tracker structure in a fashion that is unequivocally structurally sound (with extensive independent verification from world leading wind consultancies RWDI and CPP).

At the same time, these trackers have been value APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 38

engineered to optimise costs in the capex sensitive ASEAN market. We have a highly bankable track record approaching 7GW of trackers over the major part of the past decade with some of the planet’s largest IPPs and EPCs. We are also backed by the publicly listed Trina parent company. When it comes to after sales support and warranty, only TrinaTracker unlocks the highest and most assured long term energy outcome for our clients. Please note however that TrinaTracker is also available for projects using modules from manufacturers other than Trina.

2

WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES OF YOUR SINGLE AXIS TRACKERS WHICH DIFFERENTIATE THEM FROM COMPETITORS?

TrinaTracker boasts a number of points of difference over our competitors. Firstly, through the integrated design, every last engineering detail has been rigorously validated to optimise long term reliability and energy performance, such as how the modules physically integrate into the structure with minimal structural shading on the underside of the bifacial modules. This provides Single point accountability and eliminates blame shifting between different stakeholders if there are any performance or reliability issues in service and provides a lower technology risk profile as compared to traditional disaggregated procurement models where modules come from one company and trackers from another.

Secondly, our longer time spent evaluating and iterating our full scope aero elastic wind tunnel testing on both our 1P dual row Agile and 2P single row Vanguard models evolved our thinking that we needed to pivot to a multiple point drivetrain concept to guard against second order dynamic

ASEAN

issues (the propensity of which increases with the larger module form factor and longer strings, up to forty modules in a string with Trina’s low voltage 210mm wafer Vertex modules). The multiple points of driving act to break up the accumulation of torsional strain along the tracker tube and structure and increase the structural natural frequency to a level far in excess where wind induced dynamic phenomena could pose a risk.

Finally, with the strong backing of publicly listed Trina parent company and balance sheet behind the tracker solution, we find our clients, especially those that take the long term view and Build-OwnOperate are much more comfortable in making the transition from traditional fix tilt to single axis tracker in markets where trackers are not yet ubiquitous.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 39

3

HOW DO TRINA TRACKING SYSTEMS DELIVER HIGHER POWER GAINS AND LOWER LCOE?

TrinaTracker can provide our intelligent tracker controller (known as SuperTrack) which utilises machine learning functionality to maximise yield, and has been independently verified by CGC Group to deliver more than 3% more kWh/kWp on typical sites through optimising tracking angle with respect to bifacial performance in heavy cloud cover, and up to 8% on sites with highly variable terrain.

Furthermore there is a “value stacking” effect where the yield boost from bifacial modules is more pronounced than on fixed tilt.

From a construction perspective, for regions with unconstrained land with lower acquisition cost encourages deployment at a low GCR with wide pitch, this uses more land per unit plant capacity and increases geotechnical and civil risk. Trina Tracker requires fewer foundations, as low as 100 piles per MW DC, which mitigates risks on unforeseen costs for piling and foundations, predrilling and so forth as well as deliver considerably more in construction savings as compared to the small cost premium on the tracker. Furthermore, our trackers enable industry leading slope tolerance (up to 30% in any direction with our 2P Vanguard) which greatly mitigates risks around unforeseen civils works, cut and fill and so forth. So it is important to work with a tracker partner who can mitigate these two key construction risks and unlock a lower construction cost.

Regarding O&M, TrinaTracker has an extensive track

record over the best part of a decade in all key global markets. We have cultivated a rigorous vendor qualification program to ensure high quality of all critical tracker components to enable typical tracker uptime in excess of 99%. And with trackers the cost of module cleaning with our robotic cleaning solutions, coupled with wider less impeded access between the rows facilitates more cost effective vegetation management, meaning the typical full scope O&M cost is equivalent or not too dissimilar to fix tilt systems.

For trackers, we see the best economic outcome being attained in regions with a high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) Solar Resource. That said, while traditionally with monofacial modules the economic returns were not quite as favourable for trackers in tropical equatorial regions with high solar altitude and a sustained period of the year with heavy cloud cover, we find the value stacking synergy of bifacial modules on trackers can restore the yield advantage of trackers in Vietnam back to 18% or more kWh/kWp as compared to fixed tilt for same DC capacity.

What is interesting in a Vietnam specific context is we have compared trackers and bifacials at 125% DC to AC overdrive to fixed tilt monofacial at the more common 150% overdrive. What we found is that even in consideration of cost of land, an onerous adder for O&M opex even though we are confident O&M opex is similar for tracker and fix tilt, and a more than one cent premium on bifacial as compared to monofacial, is that in the same footprint and same MW AC capacity the tracker delivers 1% more energy on an absolute MWh per year basis and a lower LCOE by more than 7% - this is because with the tracker the DC capacity is 14% lower, driving an overall capex reduction of more than 8%. We expect this to remain while PV prices remain high.

WHAT IS INTERESTING IN A VIETNAM SPECIFIC CONTEXT IS WE HAVE COMPARED TRACKERS AND BIFACIAL AT 125% DC TO AC OVERDRIVE TO FIXED TILT MONOFACIAL AT THE MORE COMMON 150% OVERDRIVE. WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT EVEN IN CONSIDERATION OF COST OF LAND, AN ONEROUS ADDER FOR O&M OPEX EVEN THOUGH WE ARE CONFIDENT O&M OPEX IS SIMILAR FOR TRACKER AND FIX TILT, AND A MORE THAN ONE CENT PREMIUM ON BIFACIAL AS COMPARED TO MONOFACIAL, IS THAT IN THE SAME FOOTPRINT AND SAME MW AC CAPACITY THE TRACKER DELIVERS 1% MORE ENERGY ON AN ABSOLUTE MWH PER YEAR BASIS AND A LOWER LCOE BY MORE THAN 7% - THIS IS BECAUSE WITH THE TRACKER THE DC CAPACITY IS 14% LOWER, DRIVING AN OVERALL CAPEX REDUCTION OF MORE THAN 8%.

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 40

4

WHAT ARE SOME LATEST TECHNOLOGY FEATURES INCORPORATED IN TRINA TRACKERS?

For trackers, we see the best economic outcome being attained in regions with a high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) Solar Resource. That said, while traditionally with monofacial modules the economic returns were not as favourable for trackers in tropical equatorial regions with high solar altitude and a sustained period of the year with heavy cloud cover, we find the value stacking synergy of bifacial modules on trackers can restore the yield advantage of trackers back towards 20% or more kWh/kWp as compared to fixed tilt for same DC capacity.

IN MALAYSIA WE QUOTED OVER HALF A GW IN THE RECENT LSS4 TENDER AND RECENTLY SIGNED OUR FIRST ORDER THERE FOR OUR INTEGRATED TRINAPRO TRACKER AND BIFACIAL MODULE ON A BEHIND THE METER INSTALLATION AT AN INDUSTRIAL SITE.

ASEAN

5

PLEASE BRIEF ABOUT YOUR RECENT ORDER AND YOUR PLANS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN MARKET IN NEAR FUTURE.

For the reasons articulated in the previous answer, we see a promising future for single axis tracking and bifacial in the SEA region. We are watching the Vietnam market closely as our technology provides a compelling financial outcome at both ends of the market, from large scale DPPA but we are also exploring the possibility of ground mount self consumption models for industrial consumers whose roof may not be suitable for solar but possess sufficient land holdings in close proximity to their facilities. In Malaysia we quoted over half a GW in the recent LSS4 tender and recently signed our first order there for our integrated TrinaPro tracker and bifacial module on a behind the meter installation at an industrial site. Even in extreme high wind regions like the Philippines in some locations we see tracking as a viable option and unlocking lower cost of energy even after considering additional costs to reinforce the structures. And in other markets like Thailand and Indonesia we are leveraging the extensive reach Trina maintains through our module sales business to drive engagement and opportunities for our tracker business.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 41

PRODUCT FEATURE

Founded in 1997, Trina Solar is the world leading PV and smart energy total solutions provider. The company engages in PV products R&D, manufacture and sales; PV projects development, EPC, O&M; smart micro-grid and multi-energy complementary systems development and sales, as well as energy cloud-platform operation. In 2018, Trina Solar launched its Energy IoT brand, established the Trina Energy IoT Industrial Development Alliance together with leading enterprises and research institutes in China and around the world, and founded the New Energy IoT Industrial Innovation Center. With these actions, Trina Solar is committed to working with its partners to build the energy IoT ecosystem and develop an innovation platform to explore New Energy IoT, as it strives to be a leader in global intelligent energy. In June 2020, Trina Solar listed on the STAR Market of Shanghai Stock Exchange.

For more information, please visit

WWW.TRINASOLAR.COM.

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION TrinaTracker is specialized in the design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of fixed tilts and solar trackers. With more than 5 GW developed worldwide, offices on the five continents and more than 300 projects carried out, TrinaTracker is your partner of reference for large scale solar projects. TrinaTracker offers its clients a product of optimal quality with the most advanced technology, thereby achieving a better performance in each project.

The key advantages of TrinaTracker are

made solutions for each project.

In-house manufacturing centre: optimal quality materials and adaptability to delivery dates.

Bankability: solid and trustworthy financial capacity.

Quick and simple installation.

Wind tunnel test.

99.5% rate of yield.

It has two main product series: Vanguard 2P- independent horizontal single-axis tracker, Agile 1P- dual-row horizontal single-axis tracker.

TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICATIONS Comprehensive and integrated design of modules and trackers Driven by module development trends, TrinaTracker employed a comprehensive a n d i n t e g r a t e d a p p r o a c h w h e n d e si g n i n g new tracker products. Based on the updated dimensions, weight and electrical characteristics of modules, TrinaTracker has made corresponding adjustments for structural reinforcement and innovative improvement for optimal tracker design, ensuring all products’ impeccable compatibility with latest modules.

Design validation from wind tunnel test by global authoritative agencies The complex aero elastic efforts on the solar system and the dimensional increase of modules have imposed extra difficulty on tracker reliability design. To overcome this obstacle, TrinaTracker collaborated with prestigious agencies (RWDI and CPP) to conduct a series of wind tunnel tests for continuous tracker design improvement.

In-house engineering department: custom

ASEAN

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 42

The optimized components and reinforced structure guarantee lower failure risk and better system stability.

TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS

The latest multidrive technology maintains good working conditions under higher external load

Vanguard 2P

Multidrive, each drive device has a self-locking function, which can effectively reduce the impact of gust wind. Multidrive equivalently splits the entire tracker into multiple smaller single drive trackers whose torsion arm is shorter and resulting torsional load is lower.

Adopting a single motor mechanism where output power from primary drive is simultaneously transferred to both secondary drives via transmission bar to achieve higher system synchronization but lower failure rate than multimotor design. Special cardan design is adopted between the transmission bars with strong rectifying ability and easy installation.

Equipped with patented structural component The spherical bearing has a self-adjusting function, which can automatically rectify deviations caused by installation, correct errors generated during EPC installation and construction, and alleviate the harm caused by uneven foundation settlement during the life cycle of the tracker.

SuperTrack intelligent tracking algorithm increases power generation TrinaTracker is one of the first vendors that offers optimizing tracking algorithm for ‘bifacial + tracking’ systems in the industry, focusing on capturing the combination of direct illumination + rear sunlight reflection + rear scattering irradiance. Based on the patented model of Trina Solar’s bifacial irradiation technique combined with advanced information collection technology and artificial smart algorithms, SuperTrack dynamically optimizes the tracking angle according to the real-time weather conditions and system parameters which will ultimately realize a substantial yield gain in bifacial applications.

ASEAN

2 in portrait, specifically engineered for large m o d u l e s w i t h m u l t i p o i n t d r i v e f o r s t a b i l i t yU p t o 120 modules per tracker – optimized for Low Voltage up to 40 modules per string I nd i v i d u a l r o w a c t u a t i o n f o r o p t i m u m b i f a c i a l yield and wide unimpeded vehicle access every row (easiest O&M) Optimized slope tolerance up to 30% (15% standard) Lowest installed cost: 7 piles per table, <120 piles per MW Best for Challenging sites: irregular/constrained, geotech, undulating, flood plain

Agile 1P 1 in portrait, specifically engineered for large modules Up to 120 modules per tracker – optimized for Low Voltage up to 40 modules per string Dual row actuation for enhanced bifacial yield and wide vehicle access every other row (easy O&M) Fewest motors/controller/battery per MW (save capex & opex) Enhanced slope tolerance 20% N/S, 10% E/W Best for less challenging sites

TARGETED/ BENEFITTED CUSTOMER SEGMENT TrinaTracker is designed for utility owners and EPC for their large scale solar projects. TrinaTracker products, withstanding high wind and heavy snow confrontation attributed to extreme weather mitigation strategy, survive themselves in harsh environments such as hot and humid places, chilling regions, and corrosive areas, Therefore, TrinaTracker are applicable in various circumstances such as desert, plain and hilly terrain, as well as solar projects with agricultural features and aquaculture features.

APR-MAY ISSUE 2021 | PG 43

LAUNCHED NEW EXCLUSIVE PUBLICATION for Middle East Solar Industry

EMPOWERING HIGH GROWTH ASIAN MARKETS

For Advertising Opportunities, Contact: Smriti Singh, Mob: +91 7718877514, Email: smriti@firstviewgroup.com For Editorial Participation, Contact: Sangita Shetty, Mob: +91 88505 69133, Email: editorial@firstviewgroup.com