Singapore, 30 November 2010

The National Solar Repository (NSR) was officially launched on 30 November 2010 by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) in collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

The National Solar Repository captures data from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Singapore, ranging from smaller systems installed on private bungalows to large installations on commercial and industrial buildings. To date, more than 50% of Singapore’s installed solar systems are being monitored under the NSR. With the aim of accelerating solar adoption in Singapore, the NSR team will analyse the systems’ performance data and share best practices and know-how in solar system installation and integration.

The repository’s website (www.solar-repository.sg) displays the location of each PV system on the map of Singapore, as well as technical information of the systems. Photographs of the various PV systems across the island are also displayed. Interested companies or individuals can access background information about solar photovoltaics and contact a range of listed solar systems integrators for further information.

The purpose of NSR is threefold:

1.      The repository will create awareness on the growing photovoltaic installations in Singapore. Singaporeans have to be informed about the country’s progress in solar and be enthusiastic about this clean energy technology, as Singapore is embarking on its way to become a “solar city” in the future. According to Professor Luther, CEO of SERIS, Singapore can harvest in the order of 20% of its electricity from solar sources on the island. With increasing efforts in energy efficiency this fraction can even be considerably higher, e.g. 30%. Many of those solar systems won’t be very visible though, since they will be mostly installed on roof-tops. This makes the NSR an even more valuable information portal for documenting the development of solar power in Singapore.

2.    The repository will help to optimise the performance of solar electric installations in Singapore. The performance of photovoltaic installations depends on many factors like (i) the technology of solar modules; (ii) characteristics of the power electronics connecting the module arrays with the electricity grid, (iii) meteorological conditions. Optimising system performances with respect to such factors for tropical climatic conditions has not been done so far on a larger scale. By comparing and analysing the performance of different photovoltaic systems, best practices for systems design will be identified.

3.      The NSR is beneficial to the system owners. The National Solar Repository team can compare on a monthly basis the measured electricity output of the system with the calculated output based on measured meteorological data. If both values differ significantly, the NSR team will do a failure analysis and help the system owner to optimise the output of the system, thus increasing the contribution of solar power and eventually reducing the owner’s electricity bill.

Professor Luther (CEO of SERIS), who officially launched the NSR at the Solar Pioneer Award Ceremony, commented: “Singapore, with its dedication towards clean technology, has the unique chance to lead the pace for the dissemination of solar power in tropical climates. Testing and systems optimisation today is still more focussed on moderate climate zones, predominately in the Northern hemisphere. The conditions here are much more diverse, and we have to understand the implications on the technology. A comprehensive data base across Singapore is the crucial step as we move into the “solar age”. This is especially so in a few years time, where, after having reached grid parity, we will have to smoothly integrate thousands of solar PV systems into the electric power grid.”

You can access the National Solar Repository (NSR) website at: www.solar-repository.sg