SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION : THE CASE STUDY OF PHOTOVOLTAIC IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

As the global focus turn to renewable energy, Singapore has ushered plans to compete for a pie share of clean energy market on the international stage. With escalating environmental awareness, increasing pricing of fossil fuel and improved photovoltaic efficiency, the quest for alternate energy should move beyond the immediate financial motivation. The high built up area of Singapore renders the application of photovoltaic technology most viable on buildings. Hence, supporting infrastructure for technological innovation and diffusion is the precedent for technological change in the near future that promises for better energy efficiency and greener living environment. The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which the local environment encourages for photovoltaic technological innovation and diffusion. The approach involves interview with various stakeholders such as government agencies, private sector photovoltaic firms and institute of higher learning. The assessment is then done according to the three aspects- extensiveness; perception of stakeholders of fiscal and financial government schemes; and the volume of interaction among the stakeholders between the photovoltaic and construction industry. The response of the stakeholders has revealed that the current financial assistance from government on the promotion for technological development and diffusion contains both insufficient coverage and depth. Also, with the absence of specific photovoltaic incentive, the promotion for PV technological diffusion is not adequate with building assessment schemes such as Green Mark and EnergySmart. Despite these deficiencies, sustainable technological R&D in construction would be further impeded if such infrastructure were to be omitted totally. Hence, the challenge for the policy makers on technological innovation and diffusion is to balance the provision of assistance using tax payers money and without boosting the growth of dependency of firms. Through this study, references from foreign infrastructure are drawn to address the flaws and potential areas of improvement of the current structure in place. Amongst all is the setting up and management of photovoltaic association. Although most of the stakeholders are not in flavour of this recommendation, there is many potential to such association that should not be ignored.