Rolls-Royce, Singapore to build enviro-friendly power
generators
SINGAPORE (AFP) Apr 06, 2005
Britain's Rolls-Royce and a Singapore government linked consortium
announced Wednesday a 100-million-US dollar venture to develop
environmentally friendly power generators for the mass global
market.
The system would be based on fuel cell technology, which generates
electricity by combining fuel and air in an electrochemical
reaction similar to a conventional battery.
Fuel cell-based generators are more efficient, emit less pollutants
and create less noise and vibration than conventional gas or
diesel-fired plants.
Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd. (RRFCS), a subsidiary of the
Rolls-Royce Plc, and a Singapore consortium called EnerTek
Singapore Pte. Ltd., are to jointly develop the technology, the
groups said on Wednesday.
Members of the EnerTek consortium include the Singapore state
investment arm Temasek Holdings, an investment subsidiary of the
govement's Economic Development Board and precision engineering
firm Accuron Technology.
The aim of the partnership is to develop a fuel cell
power-generator providing around one megawatt of electricity for
commercial delivery before the end of 2008.
These generators can be used to power hospitals, schools and
offices.
RRFCS chairman Charles Coltman said a pilot plant for the
technology was currently being built in Britain, while the site of
the plant to be used in the mass production would be decided later
based on market needs.
"We will have to locate the full production process close to the
markets that we're going to serve. If the Asia-Pacific comes up to
be the lead market, then it (plant) will be here," Coltman told
reporters.
Rolls Royce chief executive Sir John Rose said he expected the new
technology to be competitive with conventional power sources, with
the added premium of being environmentally cleaner.
"We're intending to make it competitive with conventional
alternatives and it will have the additional benefit of being more
environmentally friendly," he told reporters.
"So markets currently served by conventional machines will be open
to this."
Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's second minister for trade and
industry, said global demand for fuel cell systems was expected to
reach 15.1 billion US dollars by 2015.
"In an era of high oil prices, there will be a premium on energy
efficiency, energy conservation," Balakrishnan said.
"And in this world which is very concerned about global warming,
any new technology which reduces carbon emissions should be
explored and welcomed to the market. So our approach is to explore
all these options."
Apart from its aerospace business, which includes making airplane
engines, Rolls-Royce is also involved in the marine and energy
sectors.