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  • Renewables
29 October 2019

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  • Malaysia

The car park is only the first step of Safran’s vision and commitment to go ‘green’ in Malaysia, the second step will be to fully cover the large building’s roof of the site with solar panels, allowing Safran to further replace the use of electricity from fossil fuels to renewable sources to power their internal plant operations.

“The launch of this project underscores our commitment to reduce our environmental footprint by sustainably managing our production facility in Malaysia” said Kenny Chang, Managing Director of Safran Landing Systems. “Based on high-efficiency solar modules, the outcome of the project has exceeded our expectation. Not only does our staff now benefit from cooler cars when they end their shifts but now, we also have a sizeable amount of self-generated clean electricity and increased energy savings. Our team is extremely pleased with the partnership with Cleantech Solar on this successful project. This makes our high-tech plant in Sendayan Techvalley even more sustainable.”

Raju Shukla, Founder and Executive Chairman of Cleantech Solar added that the business of solar, trust can only be built on a company’s ability to deliver over the long-term and that the successful collaboration with Safran was built on the company’s track record and the strong team that it has been able to build over the last few years in Malaysia.

  • Energy Efficiency
29 October 2019

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  • Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Green Technology Corp (GreenTech Malaysia) is calling for the private sector to increase its investments in green technology in order to ensure the country’s sustainable development.

GreenTech Malaysia acting chief executive officer Syed Ahmad Syed Mustafa said there is a need for more involvement from the private sector, especially given the fact that Malaysia has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 in relation to the country’s 2005 gross domestic product under the Paris Agreement in 2016.

The Paris Agreement is a multilateral environmental agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and aims to strengthen the global response to climate change threats, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.

“We would like to encourage the private sector to invest in green investments and work together with the government. Of course, the government can set up the policy, but real investment must come from the private sector,” he told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview.

Furthermore, Syed Ahmad highlighted that corporations that do not implement sustainable practices in their businesses will be at risk of losing out in the competitive global environment.

“If you are not going green, then you will be left out. Even if you want to export products, people want to see what kind of sustainability practices do you have — the raw materials [that you are using], and the processes — whether it degrades the environment. It’s a requirement now, and it’s moving fast,” he said.

One of the main challenges to green investments within corporate Malaysia is the lack of awareness, said Syed Ahmad, especially among financial institutions. Financial institutions, he said, need to assume a bigger role in providing financing for green investments.

“Of course, they (financial institutions) will have to look at the viability of those investments — what kind of returns they can get. But then they need to be aware that without providing that kind of investments, they would probably not be sustainable themselves in the future,” he stressed.

Syed Ahmad argued that the government had, in fact, done its role in incentivising private financing for green initiatives, including institutional reforms, as well as providing tax incentives.

For instance, Syed Ahmad pointed to the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS), whereby the government offers 60% government guarantee as well as a 2% per annum interest/profit rate subsidy on loans for the financing of green technology development.

“This year, we introduced GTFS 2.0, with an allocation of RM2 billion. Now, only RM1.5 billion worth of certifications have been issued, and out of that, RM1.3 billion worth of loans have been offered by the banks for these projects. So, you can see that the government has intervened. But, for me, the banks themselves need to realise and not to be dependant on government intervention in order for them to finance [these kinds of projects],” he explained.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change  Minister Yeo Bee Yin said in September that Malaysia would need RM33 billion worth of investments in order to achieve its target of 20% electricity generation from renewable energy (RE) sources by 2025, from the 2% recorded in 2018.

At the time, she also pointed out that the investment needed to reach the RE target — which excludes power generated from large hydropower generators of more than 100 megawatts — will not come solely from the government, but also from public-private partnerships as well as private financing.

As such, solar power is the greatest potential for Malaysia for RE, Syed Ahmad said. This, he said, is an investment opportunity for Corporate Malaysia to tap into as the government has accelerated the initiatives to increase RE generation through large-scale solar and net energy metering projects.

In fact, Malaysia is already the third largest producer of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in the world.

When asked if the 20% RE electricity generation is realistic, Syed Ahmad said, “Although I think it is ambitious, I don’t think it cannot be achieved. It is still achievable.

“We need the private sector. Due to some priorities, the government has a limited budget on this. We need the private sector — which has the funds, actually — to come in and support this agenda.

“When we first started, there wasn’t much take-up [on solar technology] because the cost of the solar PV was too high. Now, because of the various programmes we have conducted, we have managed to benefit from economies of scale and people are getting more aware. There are producers in the market, and there are people investing in it.

“[Now] you can see the rise in production of electricity from solar. So the trend is there and I see that there are a lot of opportunities for solar to go further,” he said.

  • Bioenergy
29 October 2019

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  • ASEAN

The recent advent of a circular economy highlights the importance of anaerobic digestion and biogas. Anaerobic digestion is a process where large organic matter is broken down into small molecules in the absence of oxygen. During this process, biogas is produced, which consists of 60-70 per cent methane and 30-35 per cent carbon dioxide, with the remainder being traces of hydrogen sulphide. Among the many bioenergy options available, the uniqueness of biogas lies in the fact that it can be produced not only from energy crops, but also organic waste matter.

Indonesia and Malaysia are two of the main palm oil producers in the world and supply nearly 90 per cent of all global oil palm demand. Research conducted by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) projected that palm oil production in Indonesia would increase 124-197 per cent over the years 2010 to 2030.

Lately, the European Union’s plan to phase out the use of palm oil by 2030 has brought the sustainability of the oil palm industry into the limelight. However, what has been less covered is the enormous energy and carbon reduction potential of the biomass side products produced by the oil palm industry, one of which is palm oil mill effluent (POME).

POME is a perfect feedstock for anaerobic digestion as one tonne of POME generates 28 cubic metres of biogas. Indonesia and Malaysia produce about 95 million and 60 million tonnes, respectively, of POME during palm oil processing each year, which translates into a huge biogas opportunity for the region. By 2016, 54 palm oil mill owners had adopted digester technologies while the other 38 used covered lagoon systems to capture biogas in Malaysia. The biogas captured in Malaysia palm oil industry is generally used for renewable electricity generation, especially since the feed-in tariff for biogas was revised in 2014.

Other than power generation, biogas can be upgraded to biomethane and used as vehicle fuel or even injected into the natural gas grid as renewable gas. In Malaysia, the Energy Commission introduced a Third Party Access system in 2017 that allows third party to have access to and utilise gas facilities such as pipelines. This opens up the possibility for the integration of renewable gas into the national gas supply system in the future under terms and conditions.

Aside from POME, animal manure and other organic waste can also act as feedstock for biogas production. A study conducted by Oklahoma State University, the Institut Teknologi Nasional in Indonesia and other collaborators estimated that the annual electricity potential of biogas from cattle, pig and poultry waste in Indonesia amounted to 80 TWh, which is more than sufficient to replace diesel fuel in the power sector by 2030. A similar study by the Universiti Tenaga Nasional in 2016 gave an estimate of 10 TWh from animal manure and 5 TWh from POME in Malaysia by 2020, which represents about 15 per cent of natural gas replacement used in the power sector. According to the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) of Malaysia, the current installed capacity of electricity feed-in from biogas in Malaysia is 220.86 MW, which generates just 1.7 TWh per year. Such a huge potential gap is drawing attention from energy giants such as Engie to look to investing in the Indonesia and Malaysia biogas markets.

Unlike other renewable sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower, biogas relies on a feedstock supply that is stable and can form the basis for predictable commercial scale production. However, the cost of biogas feedstock varies. POME can be sourced at zero cost, while animal manure has an opportunity cost, not to mention also the logistical constraint of feedstock transportation. Furthermore, when biogas is upgraded to biomethane to increase its value, it lacks cost-competitiveness compared to fossil fuels. The only exception is when biogas is used for power generation, with a feed-in-tariff. These factors continue to discourage long-term investment in the industry.

Even though biogas from anaerobic digestion was commercialised more than 10 years ago in Southeast Asia, a new approach is needed to promote the industry by engaging large industrial players to create partnerships to establish a specialised value chain for scaling-up. Government support has a vital role to play, in terms of mandates, policies and regulations, if the biogas industry is to grow and mature in the region. One good practice to study is the Green Gas Initiative in Europe. This is a joint commitment among the gas transmission system operators of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland to “green” the gas grid through biomethane integration.

It is undeniable that biogas possesses enormous potential in Southeast Asia, especially given that the tropical climate provides the perfect conditions for anaerobic digestion. Harnessing the benefits of biogas while preventing harmful greenhouse gases from escaping into the atmosphere could also contribute to countries’ Nationally Determined Contribution goals as pledged under the Paris Agreement. Doesn’t that make biogas the best epitome of killing two birds with one stone?

Dr Rachel Hoo is a Research Fellow from the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Disclaimer: The views expressed in this commentary are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Energy Studies Institute at NUS.

  • Coal
29 October 2019

 – 

  • Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has come under fire for referring to a newly-opened coal-fired power plant as “clean”, raising concerns about the country’s focus on renewable energy in the face of its increasing energy needs.

The 500-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon, will provide additional energy supply to the Luzon grid and boost Duterte’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program according to the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

The US$1.1 billion plant – third in the central island of Luzon and 21st nationwide – is operated by San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co. (SBPL), a joint venture between the Philippines’ Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen) and Thailand’s EGCO Group.

MGen claims the plant uses high efficiency, low emission (HELE) coal technology that allows it to operate at increasingly high temperatures and pressures to reach higher efficiencies while significantly reducing harmful emissions – making it the first in the country to do so.

“To our friends in the private sector, I ask you to follow the lead of San Buenaventura power by investing in the generation of clean energy,” Duterte said on 16 October at the switch-on celebration of the plant.

Duterte’s comments on clean coal and his call for more investors flies in the face of his State of the Nation Address on 22 July, during which he said he recognised the need to ensure the sustainability and availability of resources and the development of alternative ones.

“In this regard, I trust that Secretary Cusi (Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi) shall fast-track also the development of renewable energy sources, and reduce dependence on the traditional energy sources such as coal,” he told Congress.

WHY-FOSSIL-FUELS-ARE-HARD-TO-KILL-IN-SEA
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA)

No such thing as ‘clean coal’

Greenpeace has derided the president for his views, saying that coal has long been recognised as the dirtiest and most carbon intensive form of fuel for energy generation.

Noting how in many parts of the world, countries are closing down and have stopped building coal plants, Greenpeace also pointed out the global trend of investors pulling out of coal financing.

“Greenpeace strongly denounces the Philippine government’s backward pro-coal policies. Coal is not clean, not cheap, and not sustainable,” said Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu.

“It is unfortunate that another coal plant has been inaugurated in the country, by no less than the President who seems to have been misled or misinformed by the coal industry and its ridiculous myth of ‘clean coal’,” added Yu.

Yu’s comments are nothing new, and environmentalists across the world are wary about ‘clean coal’.

Last year, NGOs warned that the European Union’s (EU) move away from polluting coal power and towards renewable energy could be at risk due to a focus on unworkable and unproven “clean coal” technologies.

“There is no such thing as ‘clean coal’ – so how comes this myth continues to hijack efforts to move Europe beyond coal?” said Darek Urbaniak, Senior Energy Policy Officer at the WWF European Policy Office.

Meanwhile Tim Buckley, the director of energy finance studies at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, told an international magazine in a recent interview that the spread of “clean coal” propaganda has hindered renewable energy sources.

“There is no such thing as clean coal. It’s the coal industry’s PR stunt,” said Buckley.

Energy demand

Clean or not, it will be hard to move away from coal in the Philippines.

The country’s energy sector is heavily dependent on the cheap source of energy, and coal made up 48 percent of total power generation in 2016 according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – which expects coal consumption in the Philippines to increase fivefold from 2018 to 2040.

These numbers are reflective of the general picture in ASEAN, where coal is expected to continue playing a prominent part in power generation.

Southeast Asia’s energy demands are expected to increase by 60 percent in 2040 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), and coal will constitute 40 percent of this growth.

Meanwhile, a report by global energy consultants Wood Mackenzie in September stressed that coal will continue to be ASEAN’s dominant fuel source in power generation, peaking at 2027 before slowing down and accounting for 36 percent of the region’s energy generation mix in 2040.

The report noted how Southeast Asia will have to invest an average of US$17 billion annually in power capacity, with coal set to account for most of this investment before being overtaken by spending on gas-fired generation. By 2034, investments in solar and wind power plants should surpass that of gas power plants.

But with millions of Filipinos already affected by climate change and worsening natural disasters, whether the Philippines – as with the rest of ASEAN – can afford to wait any longer in shifting away from coal remains to be seen.

  • Eco Friendly Vehicle
29 October 2019

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  • Indonesia

Tangerang: PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has inaugurated vehicle charging stations in four areas in Indonesia.

The areas are Tangerang, South Bali, Jakarta, and Bandung.

PT PLN Acting CEO, Sripeni Inten Cahyani, said that the inauguration of the stations is part of the company’s program to develop infrastructure for battery-powered electric motor vehicles.

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“This is in accordance with the government’s policy to develop clean energy based on the Presidential Regulation no. 55 year 2019,” Sripeni said here on Monday.

Sripeni promised that PLN would provide more charging stations, either developed solely by the state owned company or through cooperation with other stakeholders.

The inauguration was also attended by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s Electricity Director, Rida Mulyana and PT PLN’s acting commissioner, Ilya Avianti.

So far, PLN has established cooperation with 20 rivate companies in developing infrastructure and charging stations specifically for battery-powered electric vehicles.

Sripeni said that PLN plans to gradually build 10 more charging stations across Indonesia to serve battery-powered electric motor vehicles, scooters, and other electric vehicle types.

“PT PLN has held cooperation with 20 private and state-owned companies in providing and building more charging stations across Indonesia in every area possible. This reflects our commitment to not only decrease the amount of air pollution but also to reduce our reliance on non-renewable energies, such as fossil fuels.” She said. (Translator: Muhammad Gestinev)

  • Renewables
29 October 2019

 – 

  • Indonesia

October 29 (Renewables Now) – Total Solar Distributed Generation has completed the installation of a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array at a site of Indonesian petrochemical company Chandra Asri Petrochemical (IDX:TPIA).

The solar power plant at Chandra Asri’s facility in Cilegon, a coastal city in Banten province, will be able to produce more than 390 MWh of electricity annually, Total Solar said on Tuesday. The output of the 2,200-panel installation will meet about 15% of the petrochemical firm’s electricity demand. The generated power will also mitigate around 765 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year.

According to the statement, the project is among the first “no capex” schemes in Indonesia, not requiring an initial investment by the customer.

  • Eco Friendly Vehicle
29 October 2019

 – 

  • Indonesia

Indonesia is buoyant about emerging as a major producer of electric vehicles (EV) owing to quite abundant raw materials to produce lithium batteries, the main component of EV manufacturing.

Besides this, the country believes that electric-based vehicles can lower air pollution, especially in Jakarta, categorized as one of the polluted cities in the world and infamous for its massive traffic jams due to carbon emissions from motor vehicles, among other things.

To expedite the materialization of the EV industry and attract investors, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had signed Presidential Regulation No. 55 of 2019 on the acceleration of battery-operated vehicles for road transportation in early August 2019.

Development of the domestic electric vehicle industry will be accelerated in accordance with the regulation effective as of August 12, 2019. Furthermore, it encourages optimization of local content to increase competitiveness, incentives, charging station infrastructure development, and special electricity tariffs for battery charging, as well as environmental preservation.

The regulation also pushes for energy efficiency, security, and conservation in the transportation sector, clean energy usage, air quality improvement, and the realization of Indonesia’s commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

“We know that 60 percent of the key to electric cars is the batteries, and we have the components to make them (such as) cobalt and manganese in our country,” Jokowi noted in a statement posted on setkab.go.id.

Most electric cars available in the market today were some 40 percent more expensive than fossil-fueled cars, he pointed out.

Hence, he was optimistic that Indonesia’s ubiquitous resources of materials required for making batteries would help push down prices, thereby creating greater demand for EVs.

Jokowi believed that Indonesia is a strategic place for EV businesses to start, and the country is capable of designing an affordable and competitive electric car industry.

Sharing the president’s optimism, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was also confident about Indonesia becoming part of the global supply chain in the electric car industry in the subsequent five years.

“I am optimistic that Indonesia would become part of the global supply chain in the next five years. As much as 70 percent of the raw materials required for the production of lithium batteries are produced in Indonesia. It also has abundant reserves of rubber and tin,” Pandjaitan noted in a statement recently.

As the biggest producer in the mining sector, he believes Indonesia should have the power to determine the price of the commodity.

According to Pandjaitan, South Korea’s LG Chemical is contemplating on building a facility to produce lithium batteries in Indonesia as a precautionary measure against the country’s plan to ban nickel ore exports from January 2020.

He believed that LG Chemical’s intent to build the facility in Indonesia will support the government’s plan to develop electric cars.

Besides this, PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) has expressed readiness to start battery electric vehicle (BEV) production at its factory in Karawang, West Java.

“It is a global trend. If we do not join it, we will not be able to export,” TMMIN president director Warih Andang Tjahjono stated in Tokyo on Oct 28, 2019.

TMMIN is committed to supporting the government’s target for the share of electric vehicle output to reach 20 percent of Indonesia’s total car production by 2025.

The Ministry of Industry had earlier targeted investment in the battery industry for electric vehicles in the country.

One of the important aspects in accelerating the production of the electric vehicle industry is the preparation of supporting industries, such as power control units (PCU), electric motors, and batteries, then Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto stated.

Based on data, increasing investment in Indonesia for the industrial sector that will produce electric vehicle batteries only needs one additional stage, such as investment in the battery cell industry.

Other investments in mine concentrations, refinery, and electrochemical production are already a part of the Morowali Industrial Zone (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi.

In the meantime, the National Energy Council (DEN) has urged offices to set up charging stations for electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles can lower air pollution, fossil fuel consumption, and oil imports, DEN Secretary General Djoko Siswanto noted in a statement on Sept 30, 2019.

“The rationale behind using electric vehicles is to realize a cleaner environment, curb air pollution, curtail fossil oil consumption, and lessen imports. DEN urges all electric car producers to begin production of the vehicles now,” he remarked.

To support the initiative to use electric vehicles, every office should provide electric sockets or public electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLUs) at parking lots for charging batteries.

“Every office is advised to build electric sockets at motorcycle parking lots. For motorbikes, charging a vehicle battery at home or office is sufficient. Each takes around four hours to charge and can suffice for five day trips from home to office and vice versa,” he explained.

State-owned electricity company PT PLN had earlier affirmed its support to the development of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) following the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 5 of 2019.

“We will facilitate all parties keen on developing electric vehicles,” PLN Acting President Director Sripeni Inten Cahyani stated, adding that the company will offer two business schemes: Company Owned Company Operated, or COCO, and Partner Owned Partner Operated, or POPO.

Furthermore, PT PLN will offer a 75-percent discount for electric motorcycle owners and free charge for electric car users to augment power capacity, so they will have sufficient electricity to charge their vehicles at home.

The Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) had earlier echoed that electric vehicles would pick up steam in Indonesia, with more charging stations being set up nationwide.

The agency held the Indonesia Electric Motor Show (IEMS) 2019 on Sept 4-7 in Jakarta to promote the use of electric vehicles in the country.

  • Renewables
29 October 2019

 – 

  • Singapore

SINGAPORE — By next year, Housing and Development Board (HDB) residents can expect to see one in two flats sporting solar panels on their rooftops.

And by 2030, Singapore aims to produce at least 2 gigawatt-peak (GWp) of solar energy, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Oct 29).

That would be enough to power around 350,000 Singaporean households a year — more than 10 per cent of the peak daily electricity demand today, said Mr Chan, who was speaking at the opening of the Singapore International Energy Week conference.

Solar energy is set to play a key role in ensuring Singapore’s energy future. Infographic: Ministry of Trade and Industry

The 2030 target is more than five times the current target of 350 megawatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy by 2020. As of the second quarter of this year, some 260 MWp of solar capacity has already been installed.

Singapore is on track to meet its 2020 target, said Mr Chan, who added that “one in two HDB rooftops” will be fitted with solar panels by then.

Read also: Student’s lightbulb moment leads to installation of solar panels on school’s roof

OVERCOMING SPACE CONSTRAINTS

Given Singapore’s space constraints, the Republic needs to come up with ways to maximise the number of solar panels installed here, said Mr Chan.

He said that solar panels can be deployed on reservoirs, on top of rooftops or even on the vertical surfaces of buildings.

Read also: S’pore’s first large-scale floating solar panel system to be deployed at Tengeh Reservoir by 2021

“If we can do that, we will be able to significantly double the amount of space (available),” said Mr Chan.

The Government is currently studying setting up floating solar panels in Bedok Reservoir and Lower Seletar Reservoir.

For its part, national water agency PUB also announced in June that it intends to deploy Singapore’s first single large-scale 50 MWp floating photovoltaic (PV) system on Tengeh Reservoir by 2021.

Read also: Sembcorp, Singapore Polytechnic team up to develop pilot solar panel recycling plant

It was also reported last year that Sunseap will be building a sea-based floating photovoltaic system, a five-hectare development located north of Woodlands Waterfront Park, along the Straits of Johor.

Other initiatives to support solar adoption include the use of vacant state land that is not required for development in the near future.

This was started by JTC Corporation in May.

The project, called the SolarLand initiative, uses mobile substations and solar PV systems that can be relocated to alternate sites, should the land be needed for other uses.

In a factsheet released on Tuesday, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) said that Jurong Island made an “ideal location” for the first SolarLand project due to the availability of vacant land that was large enough to accommodate it.

The current system deployed at Jurong Island can produce about 6.6 GWh of solar energy per year, said the EMA.

In his speech, Mr Chan added that Singapore will also support research and development into solar energy, and also streamline regulations to make it cost-competitive to deploy solar panels.

For example, research is ongoing for building-integrated photovoltaics, said the EMA. This could mean that solar panels could soon be integrated directly into a building’s facade, rather than as separate rooftop installations.

STORING ALL THAT SOLAR ENERGY

In order to “do solar energy well”, Singapore will also need technology to store it, added Mr Chan.

However, the adoption of such energy storage systems (ESS) here is still “nascent”, and there is less than 1 MW of such systems installed currently, said the EMA.

Hence, Singapore aims to deploy 200MW of storage systems beyond 2025, said Mr Chan.

The EMA noted that the production of solar energy fluctuates due to weather conditions such as cloud cover, and this could lead to imbalances between electricity demand and supply.

Having adequate storage support will help overcome this, it added.
Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore-ramp-solar-energy-production-2030-hdb-rooftops-have-solar-panels-2020?cid=h3_referral_inarticlelinks_03092019_todayonline

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