Singapore incorporation employs green initiative

05/08/2010

Companies looking to register in Singapore could find it easier to do so in future if they start using solar power in their workplaces.

Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) is looking at ways of simplifying rules and introducing incentives for commercial and industrial businesses that provide for their electrical needs through solar power.

In a plan currently being put out for public consultation, the EMA proposes that businesses will be able to gain credits for any excess solar power made from their own solar panels that they can transfer to the national grid.

The EMA is currently seeking views from captains of industry and logistics experts to see whether the initiative would sit well in the Far Eastern island state.

The credits would only be applicable to generation units, including solar photo-voltaic (PV) systems, of below one megawatt each. Under the current rules, companies do not need an electricity-generating licence if it produces a unit or units of less than the capacity of 10MW. The company is, however, required to have a wholesaler (generation) licence if the units are connected to the national grid.


All generation and wholesaler licensees must register and comply with the rules of the Energy Market Company (EMC), which operates the electricity market there.



A similar scheme is already in place for the domestic properties on the island, where households have been able to transfer excess power to the grid, in exchange for credits.