Opening of the world’s largest solar cooling plant in Singapore
In December 2011 the opening ceremonies for the largest solar cooling system took place in Singapore attended by representatives of the Government of Singapore, the Austrian Ambassador, the Head of the United World College of South East Asia and media.
Dr. Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources: “A third of the global energy is used for buildings. Here in Singapore the bulk of energy is used for cooling due to the tropic climate. We are delighted about the project at the UWC-SEA Campus not only because of its size, but for demonstrating innovation. It fits perfectly to lively demonstrate the innovation on a place of education.”
To satisfy the needs of growing numbers of pupils and students the UWC-SEA has developed a second campus. The inaugurated East Campus has a size of 76,000 m² and can house 2,500 students. It facilitates a wide range of infrastructure such as workshops, laboratories, audio studio, theaters, libraries, cafeteria, dorms, sport grounds as well as green recreational areas for students and staff. This so called East Campus shall become a light-house project not only for educational services, but also for the state of the art environment and climate protection technologies applied.The new campus has been designed with support by S.O.L.I.D.’s concept for large-solar-thermal-systems, to fulfill the criteria of the Green Mark Platinum Certificate. The Green Mark Platinum certificate by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore is the highest possible certificate for environment friendly buildings.
The solar thermal collectors with a total area of 3,900 m² will generate “green” energy of 2,200 MWh per year over 25 years. For cooling purposes a Lithium-Bromide absorption chiller with a cooling capacity of 1,575 kW is used. At present this is the most powerful solar cooling worldwide. Further the solar system supplies up to 100% of the hot water energy demand. A hot water buffer tank of 2x30m³ and a domestic hot water tank of 7 m³ allow for sufficient energy management. Hot water supply is operational since August 2011, cooling since October 2011.
As solar thermal collector the established and proven “gluatmugl HT” from S.O.L.I.D. is installed, which is specially suited for high temperatures. With a standard size of 12.5 m² per panel it was dedicated for export markets.Concept, development, construction and optimization of the plant have been jointly realized by S.O.L.I.D International Asia Pte. Ltds and S.O.L.I.D. GmbH (based in Austria). About 75% of the total added value is from Austria.
The plant has been developed as Energy Service Company, meaning that UWC-SEA has not purchased the plant, but instead signed a contract with S.O.L.I.D. on energy services delivery for cooling and heat. UWC-SEA is paying comparable prices for cooling energy from S.O.L.I.D. as it would pay at the district-cooling grid of Singapore.
Financing comes from the Austrian EXIM Bank OeKB and Raiffeisen Landesbank Steiermark. It constitutes a milestone in the history of S.O.L.I.D. and serves as example for the export of Austrian innovations and technologies in the sector of renewable energy.
Organizational:
Design and construction: S.O.L.I.D. GmbH, Graz
Owner: S.O.L.I.D. Asia Energy Service Pte Ltd
Energy client: UWC SEA, East Campus
Financing: Raiffeisen Landesbank Steiermark, OeKB
Technical:
Collector area: 3900 m²
Hot energy storage: 2 * 30 m³
Domestic hot water storage: 7 m³
Chiller: 1575 kW (single stage LiBr)