The Carbon Trust and the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) today announced that they will be working together to help SMEs in Singapore to improve their energy efficiency. The announcement of the collaboration is being made at Kew Gardens in London as part of the official state visit to the UK of Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore.

The Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) is leading a S$17 million SME Energy Efficiency initiative, with support from SPRING Singapore, National Environment Agency (NEA) and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). The goal is to help some 300 SMEs achieve at least 10 per cent savings in energy costs over the next three years. 

The Carbon Trust will collaborate with SEAS as part of this initiative, making use of its experience of providing advice and support to tens of thousands of businesses and public sector organisations around the world, including 15,000 SMEs in the UK.

As a small-island city-state, Singapore relies on energy imports and has limited access to clean alternative energies.  Energy efficiency is therefore central to Singapore’s strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the added benefit of strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of its economy.  Under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, Singapore aims to achieve a 35% improvement in energy efficiency from 2005 levels by 2030.

We know from experience that having funding available for energy efficiency is not enough by itself to get SMEs to implement projects. Despite the fact that the business case for energy efficiency can often appear overwhelmingly strong, a lack of awareness of specific opportunities, or confidence in the companies that will recommend or deliver projects, can be major barriers to implementation. We are delighted to be working with SEAS to help meet our shared objectives of taking action on climate change and building a sustainable, low carbon economy through global green growth.

- Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust has many years of experience working with SMEs to improve their energy efficiency and productivity. SEAS as an industry association managing the SME Energy Efficiency Initiative can benefit immensely from this, as well as implement some of the strategies that worked well and imbibe the lessons learnt. We look forward to our collaboration with the Carbon Trust.

- Kavita Gandhi, Executive Director of SEAS

For further information please contact the Carbon Trust press office on 020 7170 7050 or email press@carbontrust.com.

About the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust is an independent company with a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. The Carbon Trust:

• advises businesses, governments and the public sector on opportunities in a sustainable, low-carbon world;
• measures and certifies the environmental footprint of organisations, products and services;
• helps develop and deploy low-carbon technologies and solutions, from energy efficiency to renewable power

About the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore

Launched in 2006, the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) represents the interests and provides a common platform for companies in Renewable Energy, Carbon Trading, Energy Efficiency, Clean Development Mechanism Projects and the Financial Institutions to meet, discuss, collaborate and undertake viable projects together. The Association also extends its focus to include Capacity Building, Technology Strengthening and Market Intelligence sourcing to assist its members in achieving Sustainable Growth.

As a Non-Profit Organisation, SEAS is governed by a Council whose members hail from some of Singapore's most established and progressive Sustainable Energy Companies. Through its strong links with the Singapore’s Government, SEAS works to represent its 160 members objectively and to facilitate communication between the Government, and the Sustainable Energy Community.