REC Breaking ground for one of Singapore’s largest rooftop solar installations
REC Group, the leading European brand for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, yesterday welcomed illustrious guests to the ground-breaking and contract-signing ceremony for what promises to be one of Singapore’s largest-ever rooftop solar installations. Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Amy Khor, spoke at the event, commending REC’s leadership on climate action in the country, and its pledge to support Singapore’s Year of Climate Action. The new installation on the rooftops of the REC factory in Tuas is projected to go on grid in August, and will be built in partnership with Singapore-based power company PacificLight Energy. In this partnership, PacificLight Energy will build, own and operate the solar installation as part of a blended supply package to REC.
The Tuas installation will feed around 2.6 million kWh annually into Singapore’s electricity grid, enough to power 550 HDB four-room apartments. It will save 1,400 tons of carbon emissions every year – the equivalent of planting 64,000 trees or taking almost 300 cars off the road – and further reduce the already low carbon footprint of REC solar panels.
REC supports Climate Action Campaign in Singapore
Singapore has declared 2018 to be the “Year of Climate Action” – and in his welcome speech, REC Group CEO Steve O’Neil outlined the special responsibility of REC in the country: “As the largest solar manufacturer in Singapore, REC has a key role in climate action. With more than 2,000 passionate employees, 90% of whom are based in Singapore, we are working hard every year to reach our vision: to enable everyone to benefit from electricity directly from the sun. Worldwide, more than 30 million REC solar panels are installed on roofs, ground and water – enough to power 12 million people in homes around the globe.”
O’Neil also announced REC’s pledge to support the Climate Action Campaign by Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. As well as its company pledge, REC also encouraged its employees to make individual pledges on climate action, and 323 have already signed up.
Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Dr. Amy Khor emphasized the need for action on climate change: “Each organization and individual is an agent for change. We need to propagate this message to our network of partners, families and friends to take action today for a sustainable future.” She also praised REC’s leadership, saying, “We want to see more companies think and speak carbon. REC is one of the first few companies to make their climate action pledge. I commend REC for taking the lead and championing climate action through tangible actions.”
Mr. Yu Tat Ming, CEO of PacificLight, said, “Business customers in Singapore are increasingly looking for innovative electricity supply solutions that are both sustainable and cost competitive. We are delighted that REC has adopted our Sustainergy Program, which combines the benefits of solar and conventional power in one simple bundled plan.”
REC in Singapore and worldwide
REC is expanding fast in Singapore. Since 2010, when REC opened the Tuas plant, capacity has grown by 170%. In 2018 REC plans to produce 1,500 MW of modules in the factory. The 4.3 million solar panels produced by REC at Tuas last year can cover an area of 8.6 km² – the rooftop space of 21,500 HDB blocks in Singapore. Worldwide, REC has now built a total of 7.6 GW of solar panel power, generating 10 TWh and saving 4.3 million tons of CO2 emissions every year.
Pictures:
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For further information please contact:
Agnieszka Schulze
Head of Global PR, REC Group
Leopoldstraße 175
80804 Munich, Germany
Tel.: +49 89 54 04 67 225
E-mail: agnieszka.schulze@recgroup.com
Clare Savereux
Senior Manager, Regulations & Corporate Communications
PacificLight Power Pte Ltd
Tel.: +65 6603 8980
E-mail: media@pacificlight.com.sg
About REC Group:
Founded in Norway in 1996, REC Group is a leading vertically integrated solar energy company. Through integrated manufacturing from silicon to wafers, cells, high-quality panels and extending to solar solutions, REC Group provides the world with a reliable source of clean energy. REC’s renowned product quality is supported by the lowest warranty claims rate in the industry. REC Group is a Bluestar Elkem company with headquarters in Norway and operational headquarters in Singapore. REC Group employs more than 2,000 people worldwide, producing 1.4 GW of solar panels annually. Find out more at www.recgroup.com
About PacificLight
PacificLight is a Singapore-based power generation and electricity retailing company that has provided competitively-priced electricity and unparalleled customer service since 2013. PacificLight owns and operates an 800MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power plant on Jurong Island, which is capable of powering over 1,000,000 Singapore households. Due to our plant’s high levels of reliability and efficiency, PacificLight has also been recognised as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Our retail business, known as PacificLight Energy, has a strong focus on customer service, and aims to enhance value for its customers by providing customisable electricity packages that are tailored to meet customers individual needs. The company is majority-owned (70%) by FPM Holdings (Singapore) Ltd (HK), with the remaining 30% held by Petronas International Corporation (Mauritius) Ltd. FPM Power is a 60:40 joint venture between both First Pacific Company Ltd and Meralco PowerGen Corporation respectively. To find out more please visit www.pacificlight.com.sg