Apr 27, 2022 | Business
Singapore’s homegrown electricity retailer Union Power Pte Ltd (“Union Power”) has been appointed as distribution partner for a proposed US$5 billion project promoted by Anantara Energy Holdings Pte Ltd (“Anantara”) to generate renewable energy in Indonesia and export up to 4 TWh annually back to the city-state.
Anantara’s project involves generating up to 3.5 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy from a 4,000-hectare site in the Riau Islands and a battery capable of storing up to 12 GWh – one of the largest in the world – before being connected to Singapore via an undersea cable.
The electricity import is subject to licensing approval from the Energy Market Authority of Singapore which has announced major plans to diversify its energy mix into renewables and reduce its reliance on liquified natural gas, and transition towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
Singapore’s green plans include the importation of clean renewable energy from neighbouring countries.
Union Power, a member of homegrown Union Energy Corporation Pte Ltd (UEC) which has more than 40 years of business history, will be involved in retailing a significant portion of the imported clean energy to its base of 22,000 residential and business customers, leveraging upon the Company’s deep domain knowledge and extensive network in Singapore.
The partnership is part of Union Power’s strategies to diversify towards solar and renewable energy, as the Company seeks to transform its business to support Singapore’s green plans. Through its solar arm Union Solar, Union Power installs, operates and finances solar PV systems on the rooftops of commercial buildings, allowing customers in Singapore to enjoy competitive solar energy tariffs compared to conventional retailer tariffs. To date, Union Solar has been building a pipeline of 11 commercial & industrial projects, and expects demand to grow in the months ahead.
Other efforts include building infrastructure for Electric Vehicle charging, as well as a partnership with a Dutch company to distribute a flexible light-weight solar foil which can be wrapped around structures, eliminating the need for supporting frames and structures and providing greater versatility of locations to harness solar power.
The agreement between Anantara and UEC, along with the formal joint-development agreement for the Anantara partnership and Anantara’s Memorandum of Understanding with Riau Islands Province, were signed on 19 April in the Indonesian embassy in Singapore in the presence of Ambassador His Excellency Mr Suryo Pratomo and the Governor of Riau Islands Province Mr Ansar Ahmad.
Singapore-registered Anantara is a joint venture between German solar energy turnkey solutions provider ib vogt and Quantum Power Asia, the developer of Indonesia’s first utility-scale solar PV plant.
Union Power’s Executive Director Ms Ellen Teo said, “It is a great honour for Union Power to be part of this prestigious project. We remain committed to the Singapore Government’s vision for a greener energy market, and believe our intimate knowledge of the issues faced by Singapore consumers will add significant value to the project. This partnership will be one of the most significant that we have undertaken, and will no doubt lead to even more opportunities in the near future. We accept this with deep honour and heartfelt commitment.”
Simon G. Bell, Managing Director and CEO, Quantum Power Asia, said, “Partnering with Union Power is a foundational strategy for ensuring strong execution capability in Singapore that will lead to Anatantara delivering excellence in making available clean electricity in the Singapore market. Along with ib vogt, we look forward to a long-term relationship with the Union Power team.”
David Ludwig, Director Asia Pacific, ib vogt, said, “We are very enthusiastic about the partnership, which combines the strengths of Union and Quantum, for the Singapore import tender. Each consortium member is a leader in their respective fields and together we are able to provide a very competitive and compelling offer to substantially contribute to Singapore’s decarbonisation efforts as well as the economic development of the Riau Islands.”
About Union Power
Union Power Pte Ltd is a leading digital energy retailer, licensed by Singapore’s Energy Market Authority. The Company is a subsidiary of Union Energy Corporation, the largest bottled-gas supplier in Singapore, which has over 40 years of operating track record in the business of retailing LPG, Natural Gas, Diesel and Electricity in the Commercial, Industrial and Residential markets. Founded in 2017, Union Power launched Union Solar in September 2020, in line with its push towards sustainable solutions through solar energy power generation. For more information, please visit: https://unionpower.com.sg/
Media & Investors:
WeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd
Isaac Tang, e: unionpower@wer1.net, m: +65 9748 0688
Topic: Press release summary
Mar 16, 2022 | International
A Clean Electricity Standard discussion paper to be published in March 2022 will help guide engagements to inform the design and scope of the regulation, which will help drive progress towards achieving a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada had set a goal of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. This accelerates the original target outlined in Canada’s strengthened climate plan (December 2020) by fifteen years.
A Clean Electricity Standard discussion paper to be published in March 2022 will help guide engagements to inform the design and scope of the regulation, which will help drive progress towards achieving a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.
Maintaining Affordability and Reliability
In developing the proposed Clean Electricity Standard, the Government of Canada will work with implicated provinces and territories as appropriate to take into account possible clean power opportunities as well as potential cost and reliability issues for ratepayers and utilities, and impacts for electricity workers. Together, we will design a standard that minimizes impacts on ratepayers, maintains reliability, and reduces emissions.
The Clean Electricity Standard discussion paper builds on the federal government’s earlier actions on electricity. This includes implementing a 2030 phase-out of unabated coal and putting in place natural gas electricity performance standards to provide the right market signals. Together, these climate policies give utilities time to efficiently transition to clean electricity sources with minimal impacts on ratepayers.
Fossil fuel–free electricity can also protect consumers from market volatility and exposure to global events that affect the price of natural gas and oil, fuels that utilities currently use as part of their portfolio to generate electricity.
Supporting the Transition to Net-Zero Electricity
The Government of Canada understands the transition to net zero will require major investments in clean electricity generation, storage, and grid modernization to meet increasing demand from electrification in other parts of the economy as grid operators simultaneously decarbonize generation.
As part of Canada’s climate plan, the federal government is providing support for investments in renewable energy and next-generation clean energy and technology solutions.
In December 2020, Canada committed $15 billion in investments to build a stronger, cleaner, more resilient, and inclusive economy. This funding is helping to support many projects in the electricity sector, including:
an additional $964 million over four years to advance smart renewable energy and grid modernization projects to enable the clean grid of the future;
investing an additional $300 million over five years to help rural, remote, and Indigenous communities that currently rely on diesel to be powered by clean, reliable energy by 2030;
supporting connecting provincial electricity networks with necessary intertie project pre‑development work by providing $25 million in 2021–2022 to help some proponents conduct engineering assessments, community engagement, and environmental and regulatory studies; and
working with provinces and territories to help build key intertie transmission projects with support from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Currently, this work includes advancing the “Atlantic Loop” intertie project, which could greatly reduce emissions and maintain electricity affordability in the Atlantic region, as well as other regional initiatives.
The Government has since expanded on these investments and committed an additional $17.6 billion in new green recovery measures included in Budget 2021, along with the creation of an investment tax credit to encourage the development of carbon capture and storage projects and increase their feasibility.
In addition, as part of its $10-billion Growth Plan, the Canada Infrastructure Bank has identified a long‑term target of $5 billion for clean power projects to support renewable generation and storage and to transmit clean electricity between provinces, territories, and regions, including to Northern and Indigenous communities.
On February 14, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the Future Electricity Fund as part of the Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS), which will re-invest $79.5 million to support clean electricity projects at electricity generating facilities covered by the OBPS in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick.
The Government of Canada is moving forward with its first green bond issuance of $5 billion before the end of March, the proceeds of which will be used to offer investment opportunities in both climate and environmental measures, including in green infrastructure and projects related to wind and solar energy. The green bond framework was published on March 3, 2022.
Oct 3, 2021 | Business
The Union Ministry of Power has promulgated the Electricity (Transmission System Planning, Development and Recovery of Inter-State Transmission Charges) Rules 2021. This paves the way for overhauling of transmission system planning, towards giving power sector utilities easier access to the electricity transmission network across the country.
At present, generating companies apply for long-term access (LTA) based on their supply tie-ups, while medium-term and short-term transmission access is acquired within the available margins. Based on LTA application, incremental transmission capacity is added. A number of sector developments, such as the increasing focus on renewable energy, and the development of the market mechanism, necessitated a review of the existing transmission planning framework based on LTA.
The rules underpin a system of transmission access which is termed as a General Network Access in the inter-state transmission system. This provides flexibility to the States as well as the generating stations to acquire, hold and transfer transmission capacity as per their requirements. Thus, the rules will bring in rationality, responsibility and fairness in the process of transmission planning as well as its costs. In a major change from the present system of taking transmission access, power plants will not have to specify their target beneficiaries. The rules will also empower state power distribution and transmission companies to determine their transmission requirements and build them. Also, states will be able to purchase electricity from short term and medium term contracts and optimize their power purchase costs.
Apart from introducing GNA, the rules also specify clear roles of various agencies involved in the transmission planning process. The Central Electricity Authority shall prepare a short-term plan every year on rolling basis for next 5 years and perspective plan every alternative year on rolling basis for next 10 years. The Central Transmission Utility shall prepare an implementation plan for inter-State transmission system every year on rolling basis for up to next 5 years which will take into account aspects such as right –of-way and progress of the generation and demand in various parts of the country. The rules specify how the existing LTA would be transitioned into General Network Access. The rules also outline the recovery of GNA charges from the users of transmission network and assign the responsibility of billing, collection and disbursement of inter state transmission charges to the Central Transmission Utility.
The rules have enabled, for the first time, that the transmission capacity can be sold, shared or purchased by the States and generators. The rules prescribe that excess drawal or injection over the GNA capacity sanctioned shall be charged at rates which are at least 25% higher and this will ensure that the entities do not under-declare their GNA capacity. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has been empowered to bring out detailed regulations on GNA in inter state transmission system.
The Central Government has notified these rules with a view to streamline the process of planning, development and recovery of investment in the transmission system. The rules are aimed at encouraging investments in the generation and transmission sectors. The rules will enable the country to develop deeper markets.
Transmission system is the vital linkage in the power sector value chain connecting the generation and the demand. The Central Government is committed towards ensuring adequacy of transmission system for supply of power from one State to another State and across regions. The Rules brought out by the Central Government underpin that “electricity transmission planning shall be made in such way that the lack of availability of the transmission system does not act as a brake on the growth of different regions and the transmission system shall, as far as possible, to be planned and developed matching with growth of generation and load and while doing the planning, care shall be taken that there is no wasteful investment”.
In a series of other reforms carried out earlier, also on the directions of the Union Power Minister, Shri R. K. Singh, the Ministry had separated the Central Transmission Utility from POWERGRID to provide transparency and a level playing field in the bids for transmission and reduced the lock-in period for transmission projects in order to attract investments and more competition. The Ministry of Power also issued the Right of Consumer rules, which empower consumers and rules laying down the ceiling for late payment surcharge.
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Jul 31, 2021 | Business
Sky, Europes leading media and entertainment company, has today announced it has met its target to source 100% renewable electricity across its entire business, as it continues towards its ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030.
Skys offices, retail stores and journalism hubs across the world are now powered by renewable electricity* which has in turn contributed to a 22.7% reduction in emissions across Scopes 1 & 2 from the 2018 baseline.
Sky has also published the reporting methodology for its Scope 3 emissions which are responsible for 98% of its total value chain emissions and includes the use of Sky products in customers homes and the emissions of its supply chain. By sharing its approach in full, Sky hopes to enable and inform others on the journey to net carbon zero, because transparent reporting is critical in the Race to Zero and staying on a 1.5° pathway.
As recognised in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Corporate Value Chain Standard, Scope 3 calculations commonly rely on estimated approaches. Sky is working with suppliers and industry peers to replace estimates with primary data with the goal of using more accurate tracking and reporting to accelerate progress to net zero.
Fiona Ball, Sky Group Director Bigger Picture, said: Transparently sharing data on our net zero transition is central to Skys approach. We know that business can accelerate the journey to a zero-carbon future by sharing knowledge, learnings and data as freely and widely as possible. We have published our Scope 3 reporting methodology to enable others to go on the journey with us, because net zero wont be achieved by individuals but through collective action.
Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100, said: Congratulations to Sky on achieving their RE100 goal of 100% renewable electricity! As one of the pioneering early members of RE100, its great to see Sky realising their bold ambition. We are looking forward to continuing to accelerate change towards zero carbon grids together with Sky and their growing group of RE100 peers.
Sky has met its RE100 commitment to source 100% renewable electricity by 2020, through on-site generation, buying renewable electricity tariffs that are backed-up by traceable certificates, and where it cant control the tariff, Energy Attribute Certificates. Sky has also set the ambitious target of generating at least 20% of its own electricity on all new buildings and large refurbishments.
*In line with RE100 reporting standards, where existing contracts cannot be changed or influenced, Sky has purchased traceable renewable energy certificates aligned to the location it generates and retired them from the market in the same year as the energy is used.
Read Skys Impact Report: Seeing the Bigger Picture
About Sky:
Sky is Europes leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Across six countries, we connect our 23 million customers to the best entertainment, sports, news, arts and to our own award-winning original content.
Our technology, including the market leading Sky Q, connects people to everything they love with entertainment from Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer and apps like Spotify, YouTube, BBC Sounds, Highbrow, Fiit, and more, in one place, easy. Our streaming service, NOW TV, brings viewers all the enjoyment of Sky with the flexibility of a contract-free service.
Building on the success of Sky Originals like Chernobyl, Bulletproof and Brassic, we are doubling our investment in original content by 2024 through Sky Studios. Sky News provides impartial and trustworthy journalism for free, while Sky Arts, the UKs only dedicated free-to-air arts channel, makes the arts accessible for everyone. Our new TV and movie studio, Sky Studios Elstree, is expected to create over 2,000 new jobs and generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK over the first five years alone.
We believe that we can be a force for good in the communities in which we operate. Were committed to being Europes first net zero carbon entertainment company by 2030 and were proud to be a Principal Partner and Media Partner of COP26. We take pride in our approach to diversity and inclusion: weve been recognised by The Times and Stonewall for our commitment to diversity and weve set ambitious 2025 targets to continue to increase diversity and representation. Were also committed to investing £30million across our markets over the next three years to improve our approach to diversity and inclusion, and to tackle racial injustice.
