Sembcorp opens first energy-from-waste plant in Singapore

Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) opened its new S$34 million (US$26.5 million) woodchip-fuelled biomass steam production plant in Singapore, which has a capacity of 20 tons per hour. The Sembcorp Woodchip Boiler Plant is located in Jurong Island’s Sakra district. Using waste wood, construction and demolition waste collected and processed by the solid waste collection arm of Sembcorp, the newly opened plant will provide process steam to commercial customers on Jurong Island. The Sembcorp Woodchip Boiler Plant creates value from waste. The plant is designed according to the standards of the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Gold and uses solar power as a source of natural ventilation and lighting, as well as recycled building materials. It is also highly automated, which ensures safety, efficiency and increased productivity. By 2014, the group plans to supply one-third of the steam demands of its customers in the Sakra district from non-traditional sources. To achieve this, Sembcorp will expand the woodchip boiler plant by constructing another boiler, which is expected to be operational in the second half of 2013. The second boiler will have a capacity of 40 tons of steam per hour. With the combined capacity of the two boilers, the group estimates that they will reduce CO2 emissions by 70,000 tons per year. Aside from this, Sembcorp said it will develop two new energy-from-waste boilers, also in Sakra district. The additional boilers will use industrial and commercial waste collected and processed by Sembcorp’s solid waste collection unit, to produce 140 tons per hour of steam for its existing customers. “Our woodchip boiler plant is significant for Sembcorp in our journey as a vital partner to the industry on Jurong Island. It is also a step forward in our strategy to grow our portfolio of renewable energy assets, and in particular, to offer sustainable and competitive energy-from-waste solutions to our customers in Sakra. This solution provides an alternative economical source of energy for our customers on Jurong Island while leveraging synergies between our solid waste management and energy businesses,” said Ng Meng Poh, Sembcorp executive vice president, Singapore and ASEAN (Utilities). (April 28, 2012)