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11/11 2021
ENGIE Lab to double its Research and Innovation presence in Singapore, supported by EDB
Singapore, 11 November 2021 - ENGIE Lab Singapore announced the next phase of growth in Singapore's research and innovation capabilities. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), ENGIE will double its research team in Singapore over the next 3 years, and work closely with local universities in building up its competencies in the local ecosystem.
ENGIE Lab Singapore will focus on developing local capabilities related to low-carbon cooling systems, the greening of data centres, and the integration of renewable energy into the local energy mix. The lab will develop a Center of Excellence on Cooling in the tropical climate and will lead from Singapore all the Research and Innovation programs of ENGIE related to data centres to enable the Group's vision and ambition to be a world leader in carbon-neutral data centres. These strategic areas were identified through a comprehensive 6-month study and engagement of stakeholders across the government, research and business for the region, and globally for ENGIE.
ENGIE Lab Singapore started in 2016 with the construction of its microgrid testing facility in Pulau Semakau to generate clean power from multiple sources and test energy-efficient industrial solutions in tropical conditions. This was launched under Nanyang Technological University's Renewable Energy Integration Department (REIDS) initiative, an R&D platform that provides a testbed for Singapore's ongoing energy research.
"The longstanding partnership with EDB has helped ENGIE Lab Singapore to grow from strength to strength. This new investment will continue to support the development of research, innovation, and business competencies in Singapore. We are excited to collaborate with the key stakeholders to bridge the gap between R&D and business, accelerate the energy transition, and help our clients in their journey towards carbon neutrality", explained Loïc VILLOCEL, Director of the ENGIE Lab Singapore.
"Thanks to stronger integration into the local ecosystem, ENGIE Lab Singapore will be able to develop key research capabilities, at the heart of ENGIE's research strategy", states Olivier SALA, ENGIE's Research and Innovation Vice President.
"ENGIE Lab Singapore's commitment to deepening sustainability-related research capabilities is in line with our efforts to create a conducive environment for businesses to meet their sustainability needs. We look forward to working with ENGIE, and other like-minded companies, in the push for sustainable, clean energy solutions that can be developed from Singapore for the region and beyond," said Dawn LIM, Vice President and Head, Commercial and Professional Services, EDB.
This expansion by ENGIE is the latest milestone in a long-running series of investments that ENGIE has made in Singapore, which hosts its regional operating hub for Southeast Asia. Over the last 5 years, ENGIE has successfully grown and expanded its energy services capabilities in Singapore to include advisory, research and venture building. This includes:
- 2020 – ENGIE IMPACT, a sustainability transformation advisory firm, expanded its presence to Asia-Pacific, with headquarters in Singapore, to provide comprehensive support to corporates, cities, and governments to tackle their complex sustainability challenges from strategy to execution.
- 2020 – ENGIE Factory Asia-Pacific, the venture arm of ENGIE Asia-Pacific, signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) New Ventures group to launch a portfolio of new zero-carbon startups over the next three years. The first two ventures were launched in the same year. The MOU aims to establish Singapore as a hub for sustainability innovation in Asia by creating new ventures to help businesses in Singapore and Southeast Asia decarbonize more quickly and profitably.
- 2019 – ENGIE relocated its Asia-Pacific headquarter from Bangkok to Singapore.
- 2018 – ENGIE South East Asia established its Centre of Expertise (COE) in Singapore to drive digital initiatives and technical competencies in energy efficiency for the region.
- 2016 – ENGIE opened ENGIE Lab in Singapore to focus on industrial energy efficiency, gas technologies, and smart energy systems for both islands and cities.
ENGIE's testing facilities on Pulau Semakau features Singapore's tallest wind turbine, a solar farm, a battery storage system, and a green hydrogen full chain.
Press contact for ENGIE:
Le Public Système PR
Tél.: + 33 1 55 78 27 68 / +33 1 41 34 18 62
E-mail: engiefab_r&t@lepublicsysteme.fr
Press contact for ENGIE South East Asia
Zann Chua
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
ENGIE South East Asia
M: +65 91555600