Sanyo Asia marks its foray into clean energy with solar power system
Sanyo Asia's photovoltaic system (above) is located at the Ancient Egypt attraction at the integrated resort's Universal Studios theme park. The PV system can generate 629,000 kwh of solar energy a year, enough to power 108 four-room flats. -- PHOTO: SANYO ASIA, ALPHONSUS CHERN
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IT SEEMS an unlikely location - amid all that glitz and glamour - but Resorts World Sentosa can boast Singapore's largest solar power system.
The solar photovoltaic (PV) system, as it is called, can generate 629,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy a year.
That is enough to power 108 typical four-room HDB flats while also reducing carbon emissions by 342 tonnes a year.
The system is located at the Ancient Egypt attraction in the integrated resort's Universal Studios theme park, which is slated to open next month, although some hotels start taking guests today.
The $3 million project is also an ambitious throw of the dice for Japan's Sanyo Asia, which built the leading-edge system in partnership with local firm SolarGy.
Sanyo hopes to use its Resorts World experience as a springboard to establish itself as a clear leader in environmental products and solutions in Asia.
Sanyo Asia managing director Yoshinori Nakatani told The Straits Times this week that the firm is aggressively expanding its solar business here and across the region.
'This solar installation will be the first of many to come,' he said, adding that the growth of such projects will help 'put Singapore on the world map as one of the top centres for sustainable technology in the region'.
Sanyo has identified the green technologies business, or 'cleantech' as it is known, as one with massive potential, given the growing concerns over climate change and environmental sustainability.
Its position in the industry strengthened markedly last month when Japanese giant Panasonic completed a US$4.6 billion (S$6.4 billion) buyout of Sanyo, creating one of the world's largest electronics makers.
The newly formed alliance is betting big on cleantech and intends to invest US$19 billion between 2009 and 2011 in its rechargeable battery and solar business.
Both firms manufacture rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles - a sector that is also set to explode over the next decade.
Despite the buyout, Sanyo will continue to keep its identity, although both firms will integrate businesses and staff. Sanyo employs about 26,600 people in the Asia-Pacific region while Panasonic has 60,000, said Mr Nakatani.
Sanyo chose Singapore as its regional base because of its business-friendly environment and the 'high technical know-how' of its labour force, said Mr Nakatani.
Sanyo is in talks with agencies such as A*Star, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore on collaboration in solar research and development.
Mr Nakatani added that Sanyo is confident of its suite of environmental products on offer. It aims to achieve an operating profit of US$900 million for 2011 - an ambitious task, given its operating profit for 2009 is estimated at US$276 million.
The EDB has been moving aggressively to build Singapore's clean tech industry in recent years. The Government has invested $680 million in clean energy and water technologies, while the EDB has wooed big-name firms like Norway's Renewable Energy Corp to set up shop.
The sector is expected to contribute $1.7 billion to gross domestic product by 2015 while providing 18,000 jobs.
The EDB also has plans to build a Cleantech Park in Jalan Bahar where companies can test-bed environmental products and solutions.
Besides its solar venture, Sanyo will also expand its energy storage and energy saving business such as in rechargeable batteries and efficient electronic products in Asia under its 'Think Gaia' brand, which loosely translates to 'Think Earth'.
Mr Nakatani said Sanyo is committed to developing only products that are absolutely essential to life. It is aiming to reduce the firm's carbon footprint by 20 million tonnes annually by 2020.
Source: Straits Times, 20 Jan, 2010.
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