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A STEP forward for Singapore as a global energy hub.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*star) will set up the Singapore Initiatives in New Energy Technologies (Sinergy) Centre to provide technical infrastructure and know-how in 'sustainable energy solutions'.
The regions's first national R&D testbedding infrastructure, it will cost an initial $38.5 million.
A bridge between research and cost-effective solutions at the market place, the Centre will help 'drive market acceptance of energy solutions'.
As a start, it will focus on distributed energy and microgrid systems and technologies.
'This will enable researchers and companies to test-bed novel power generating, storage and integrated power/thermal systems and study their performance in grid systems.'
'Such a 'system of systems' infrastructure is critical to facilitate the adoption of alternative energy solutions such as solar, biomass, wind and fuel cells technolgies.'
The Centre, located at the Fusionopolis in Buona Vista and the Jurong Island, will be fully operational by 2009.
A*star said in a media release on Monday that it 'will also build up new capabilities in Intelligent Energy Distribution Systems, a high-priority research area around the world that will take the energy supply and management systems into the digital age'.
Some $8 million in grants have been awarded to 10 projects in this new area.
The two new initiatives were announced by the Minister of state for trade and industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan at the inaugural UK-Singapore workshop in Energy Technology on Monday.
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