More Singapore retail malls go solar

Solar technology is making headway in Singapore's retail sector, as new and revamped malls in Singapore incorporate photovoltaics (PV) into their "green" strategies.

Sembawang Shopping Centre (SSC), a revamped mall that was re-launched in December 2008, boasts 51 solar panels on its roof that generate 34.52kWh of electricity per day. The daily output is said to be able to power a 32W fluorescent light for some 45 days.

Owned by CapitaLand's retail real estate arm CapitaLand Retail, the SSC is the company's first and only retail facility equipped with photovoltaic cells. The solar panel system cost S$150,000 (US$103,380), and is expected to have a payback period of 20 years, a CapitaLand Retail spokesperson said in an e-mail interview.

Besides solar technology, SSC also has other green features, the spokesperson added. "We have the variable speed drive controls for the mall's air conditioning system and travellators, recycling of condensed water and harvested rainwater for the irrigation of the mall's greenery and rooftop garden [and] energy-efficient lighting."

There is also a parking guidance system that aims to lower petrol consumption and reduce carbon emissions by helping customers locate car park lots easily, he said.

In May, SSC was presented the "Green Mark for Buildings" gold award by Singapore's Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

According to the CapitaLand spokesperson, malls including Plaza Singapura also incorporate environmentally-friendly features, such as energy-efficient lighting and green building material.

Over at 313@Somerset, situated on Singapore's famous shopping belt, Orchard Road, solar technology is also on the cards. Its developer Lend Lease received the platinum Green Mark award from the BCA in 2008 for the mall which is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2009.

According to a Lend Lease spokesperson, the development aspires "to be the most sustainable shopping center in Asia". At press time, she was unable to offer specifics of the solar implementation, but a statement from the Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO) in May indicated 313@Somerset would have a photovoltaic peak output of 76kWp. Kilowatt peak refers to the maximum output of a solar system operating under standard conditions, which could be reached during the hottest part of a sunny day.

The Clean Energy Programme Office is an inter-government agency effort to develop Singapore into a global clean energy hub. It administers the S$20 million (US$13.8 million) Solar Capability Scheme to encourage green facilities by the private sector, and a similar S$17 million (US$11.7 million) Clean Energy Research and Testbedding initiative for the public sector. 313@Somerset is one of five solar testbed projects supported by the Singapore government.