Forum : Solar power is safe, clean and long-lasting

I REFER to Mr Lee Eng Lock's letter, 'Tap solar power? Tackle energy inefficiency first' (ST, Jan 31).

As a manufacturer of renewable-energy systems for lighting and industrial applications, as well as grid-connected systems, we are glad to say that photovoltaic (PV) technology has improved over the past 10 years.

Among the notable improvements are the shrinking size of solar panels and the use of recycled semiconductor wafers for the production of silicon solar cells.

The sun's energy is absorbed by the PV cells even in ordinary daylight conditions. And it is not used only in remote applications, as mentioned by Mr Lee.

The PV panels used today are not just functional; they are also aesthetic. They serve as architectural facade in some installations.

We have done installations for some government boards and corporate users which recouped the cost of the investment in less than 18 months.

The following are some reasons why solar-powered systems should be used:

They are environmentally friendly - no noise (harmonics), no moving parts involved in producing energy (generators and transformers), no burning of fuel at power plants.

• They are safe, as the amount of direct current generated from solar energy for lighting purposes is very small (mA range), hence unlikely to cause electrical shock.
   
• They have a long life span and high reliability as they are independent of other systems.
    
• They keep the lights going should there be an outage with the grid.
    
• They have the potential of contributing to the utility grid.
    
• No capital investments in power cables are needed. Installation is also hassle-free as solar fixtures are usually applied directly.
  

The battery system used is deep-cycle maintenance-free.

This means that no toxic fumes or waste are produced.

Currently, fuels are burnt at power plants, which means that lots of toxic gases are emitted.

This has to be regulated properly to meet international health standards.

Mr Lee may want to view a sampling of solar installations at the forthcoming Garden Tech 2002 organised by the National Parks Board.

Yes, electricity from the grid should be produced and used more efficiently.

But the sun's rays are a readily available free source of energy.

Singapore does not have much natural resources, and has to rely heavily on its neighbours.

Its strategic location on the Equator makes it ideal for the Republic to tap solar energy.

ROY CHEONG
Manager
Sunseap Enterprises Pte Ltd