DNV KEMA has formally designated its Clean Technology Center (CTC (News - Alert)) in Singapore—which opened a research and development (R&D) unit just last month designed to address the challenges unique to the Asia-Pacific energy industry—as its Asian Center of Excellence (CoE) for Smart Grid and Renewable Energy Management.

At the launch ceremony for the R&D unit on Aug. 1, BT (News - Alert) Markussen, COO for DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability–Asia Pacific, commented, “Setting up an R&D unit here in Singapore is a natural progression in our commitment to…Asia. We established the Clean Technology Center in 2010 and with all the challenges we see in the future energy systems in Asia, the R&D unit will support the Asian market as it grows and navigates through the complexities of integrating new technologies into aging infrastructure without compromising on system reliability.”

Based in Arhem, the Netherlands, DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability is a consulting, certification, and risk management company for the energy sector with offices in 32 nations. The CoE will provide advisory services on the technical and business aspects of smart grids, ranging from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) deployment strategies, to electricity market restructuring; and from grid infrastructure impact to market-potential assessments.

As renewable energy sources increasingly become integrated into the grid, advisory services covering both technical and electricity market design considerations will be key to facilitating the adoption of renewable energy capacity in South East Asia.


Above, a DNV KEMA research and development site.

A Fast-Growing Market

The Asia Pacific energy market is embracing rapid change, with smart grid technologies and renewable energy resources playing an increasingly important role. Asia as a whole grew its investment in smart grid technologies and renewable energy to US$ 5.6 billion in 2012, and new digital energy initiatives are underway in Japan, India, Korea and various part of Southeast Asia.

In the smart grid sector, alone, DNV KEMA predicts that China will overtake the United States as the largest market in 2013, as stimulus-funded projects in the States come to an end and Chinese investment continues to grow. Already in 2012, China has raised its investment from $2.8 billion to $3.2 billion, largely on the back of major smart metering procurement by the national State Grid Company.

Global renewable energy investors also are looking toward Southeast Asia as a new market for investment. The governments of six key ASEAN countries—Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore—have established ambitious goals to increase installed renewable energy capacity over the next 20 years by a factor of five to six times greater than their capacity in 2010.

DNV KEMA intends to help them develop the new technologies they need and deploy them. “We have been actively developing technologies, knowledge and market models to help governments and energy industry players overcome the complexities of these promising developments so they can reap the benefits of their investments,” commented David Walker, CEO of DNV KEMA.

Building a Presence

“Establishing a Centre of Excellence in Singapore is a key first step towards building a presence in the Asia Pacific region. DNV KEMA is bringing together the best specialists to establish strong technical and strategic advisory services,” stated Dr. Sanjay Kuttan, CTC managing director.

DNV KEMA has appointed Chan Eng Kiat as the CoE’s lead technology specialist. Chan brings over 30 years of industry experience to the position. He was previously project director at the Energy Market Authority—spearheading the Intelligent Energy System, a smart grid pilot, in Singapore.

Goh Chee Kiong, executive director of Cleantech and Building & Infrastructure Solutions at Singapore Economic Development Board, said, “We are pleased that DNV KEMA is launching this Centre of Excellence in Singapore to serve the fast-growing energy market in Asia. Smart grids and renewable energy management represent a new growth frontier, which will help to further diversify Singapore’s vibrant cleantech [sector]. Through close partnership with government agencies, companies like DNV KEMA can leverage Singapore’s position as a ‘Living Laboratory’ to develop, test and commercialize their innovative solutions for global markets.”

The R&D unit is leveraging the good relationships that the CTC already has established over the last three years with a number of institutions in Singapore, including the Energy Research Institute @ Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N), the National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, NgeeAnn Polytechnic; and the Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC).