Industry Experts at Asia Smart Grid Event During SIEW 2011

Come November, the smart grid industry in Asia can look to learn from the practical experiences of experts at the Asia Smart Grid 2011 Conference. In the pipeline are speakers from Asia Development Bank (ADB), KEMA, Korea Smart Grid Institute (KSGI), Honeywell Building Solutions, Nabarro LLP and World Alliance for Decentralized Energy (WADE), among others.

Asia Smart Grid 2011 joins the lineup of events at this year's fourth annual Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) in November, organised by the Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA).

The inaugural two-day conference, with the theme "Insights on Growth Opportunities and Best Practices for the Asian Smart Grid", will focus on the sharing of case studies and successful implementation examples. It will also touch on investments and collaborative opportunities, giving industry players insights into potential business opportunities.

Singapore's Intelligent Energy System (IES) pilot project, announced at SIEW 2009 and involving 4,500 customers in residential, commercial and industrial locations, will also be showcased at Asia Smart Grid.

Mr Chan Eng Kiat, Project Director of IES at EMA, said: "Smart grid technologies are gaining prominence around the world as a promising and sustainable solution for intelligent and efficient energy management. As a test-bed for new applications and technologies centred around a smart grid, Singapore's IES pilot is a springboard for new energy solutions and best practices, which can be applied to electricity grids worldwide. We look forward to sharing our experiences with, and learning from, other governments and industry players at Asia Smart Grid 2011."

The programme will also feature a facility visit to the Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC) on Jurong Island, hosted by A*STAR's Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES). Said Prof Ashwin Khambadkone, EPGC Programmer Director for ICES: "ICES is pleased to collaborate with Asia Smart Grid 2011 in showcasing Singapore's EPGC where research and technology development for intelligent and decentralised power distribution, interconnection and utilisation is being carried out. By conducting a guided tour to the facility, participants can have a practical understanding of our flexible and advanced research platform."

In addition, the Asia Smart Grid 2011 exhibition will make its debut alongside the conference. Organised by Reed Exhibitions, this is a business platform for international smart grid providers and suppliers to network and share knowledge with Asia's policymakers, regulators, utilities firms and system integrators.

Singapore's smart grid capabilities will be further showcased by the Singapore Pavilion organised by the Singapore Manufacturers Federation (SMa). Local small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) can take this opportunity to build brand awareness and showcase their products and services to the region.

Said Ms Michelle Lim, Managing Director at Reed Exhibitions: "Smart grids will be key on Asia's agenda moving forward. Japan and Korea have set aside more than US$800 million this year to spend on smart grids, while China alone is expected to top US$2 billion in smart grid investments by 2015. Asia Smart Grid aims to be the platform for smart grid providers, suppliers and professionals to gather, share knowledge, exchange best practices and explore business opportunities to deliver sustainable, competitive and reliable energy sources."