Sep 13 2010
Singapore Housing Development Board has purchased solar photovoltaic panels for installation in its various residential colonies. The solar panels costing around $2.3 million will produce around 170 MWh of solar power to save around $40,000 for each such housing district.
The HDB had started the installation of solar panels in its housing colonies at Serangoon and Wellington during December 2008. The solar panels that were costing around $5.17 a watt-peak have come down to $2.33 a watt-peak now. Among the renewable energy sources such as hydro power, bio fuel, wind energy and solar energy Singapore has chosen Solar as prime energy source.
Solar energy is normally understood as reining the Sun’s energy by using photovoltaic panels and changes a part of its radiation into electric power and such solar systems do not normally utilize the thermal energy of the radiation. Solar energy also can be harnessed by utilizing a solar thermal collector used for heating functions such as heating water or heating other types of refrigerants for a number of uses. The solar thermal systems come handy in places such as industrial kitchens and hospitals where the heat generated by the thermal collectors can be used for food preparation or preservation.
Solar PV modules have become very popular due to their easy installation and maintenance. Currently advancements in solar technology has led to the introduction of hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) systems that combines two formats of solar know-how and produce power as well thermal energy. The PV/T systems are gaining popularity in green buildings due to their versatile heating and cooling performance.
Source: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/