Singapore’s Global Innovation Alliance network expands to Bangkok

Singapore’s Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Trade and
Industry & National Development, Dr Koh Poh Koon, officially launched
the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) Bangkok in Thailand on 27 April.

GIA Bangkok aims to strengthen innovation linkages between
Singapore and Bangkok and serve as an entry point for Singapore entities to
connect with the local innovation and business community.

The GIA was a key recommendation in the Committee on the
Future Economy (CFE)
2016 report. It was launched in 2017 to strengthen Singapore’s
connections to major innovation hubs around the world. Singpore's Economic Development Board (EDB) has set up the GIA Programme Office to
coordinate the overall initiative and work closely with Enterprise Singapore.

With this launch, Bangkok will be an active node of the GIA
network across cities including Beijing,
Jakarta and San Francisco. Through
partnerships with players from the tech ecosystem including tech companies,
accelerators, co-working spaces, Venture Capital (VC) funds and the local
government, GIA Bangkok, led by Enterprise
Singapore, will:

Make it easier for Singapore startups to access the market
for business opportunities
Drive partnerships between Singapore and Thai startups to
co-create innovative solutions
Build a pipeline of talent for entrepreneurship and
innovation by enabling Singapore startups and students to understand and
experience Thailand’s tech landscape through internships and programmes.

Thailand is the second largest economy in Southeast Asia,
after Indonesia. It has a high mobile and internet penetration, and a
digitally-savvy population active on social media. According to TechSauce, funding for startups in Thailand
increased from S$2.75 million in 2012 to S$360 million by 2017. The number of
VCs and corporations investing into startups also increased to over 90 in 2017
from 74 in 2016. The Thai government has also been increasingly supportive of
tech startups. The Thai government agency responsible for driving
digitalisation efforts in Thailand, the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), provides financial support for
startups and investors, tax exemptions for co-working spaces and VCs, as well
as launch special visas to make it easier for startups to hire foreign talent.

In
August 2017, Enterprise Singapore signed two MOUs with C asean and HUBBA to provide programmes and office
spaces respectively for Singapore startups keen to enter Thailand. The GIA
Bangkok launch was held at the end of a five-day long immersion programme run
by C asean.

Mr
Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore, said, “Thailand
is a growing market for startups, given the strong push from its government
towards a more innovative economy with the Thailand 4.0 initiative, as well as
strong support from the private sector. Enterprise Singapore will help our
startups plug into the Thai tech ecosystem and create market access
opportunities in the growing market.”

Said
Mr Desmond Tan, Head of Business Development at Bountie, one of the eight
Singapore startups who participated in the programme, “With the growing digital
ecosystem in Thailand, we see great potential in the demand for our eservices.
The C asean immersion programme gave us on-ground, practical insights and tips
into entering the gaming market in Thailand. This really helps us better
understand the market. We look forward to more opportunities in Thailand with
the launch of GIA Bangkok.”

Several
partnerships were launched today In line with the three above-mentioned
objectives.

True Digital Park –
ACE Singapore Centre

Singapore’s Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE [1])
and True Digital Park signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch the
True Digital Park – ACE Singapore Centre. This will help Singapore startups access
the market more easily by setting up their base in the True Digital Park – ACE
Singapore Centre.

The centre will be housed in the True Digital Park, a global
innovation ecosystem for both Thai and international startups, VCs and
accelerators, as well as the R&D and innovation units of top companies. The
Park is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2018. It will comprise
a 100,000 sqm residential area, 77,000 sqm innovation area, and 28,000 sqm
commercial area.

Startups can also participate in ACE’s market access and
innovation programmes that will provide business connections, co-innovation
opportunities, advisory services, and mentorship to facilitate market access.
This will help strengthen the internal capabilities of the startups, enabling
them to expand overseas.

ACE also signed an MOU with The
Finlab, a fintech and SME accelerator that is a joint venture between UOB bank and SGInnovate (a private-limited company
wholly-owned by the Singapore Government which aims to develop the deep tech
ecosystem in Singapore). Finlab will hold accelerator programmes in the
Singapore Centre for both Singapore and Thai startups.

MOU between Finlab,
UOB Thailand and Digital Economy Promotion Agency

To foster greater collaboration in innovation, GIA Bangkok
will continue to build a wider network of in-market partners that Singapore
tech companies can leverage.

DEPA, the United Overseas Bank (Thai) (UOB(Thai)), and The
FinLab have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) tox` establish a Smart
Business Transformation programme aimed at helping Thai SMEs with digital
transformation. They will get to pilot projects with selected technology
providers curated by The Finlab, from Thailand and Singapore.

Internship opportunities in Thailand
for Ngee Ann Polytechnic students

Ngee Ann Polytechnic signed seven MOUs with Thai startups
and companies, (namely HUBBA, Infofed, Peer Power, Techsauce, PHOENIXICTSINWATTANA
Crowdfunding and True Digital Park) and a Singapore company with presence in
Thailand (Shopback) as part of its Global Entrepreneurial Internship Programme
(GEIP) providing students with internship opportunities in technology
organisations around the world.

Through
the MOUs, students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic will have access to internship
opportunities in Thailand, allowing them to experience and gain exposure to the
business and tech scene in Bangkok.

These
internships are 22 weeks long, with the first batch having commenced their
internships since March 2018. Ngee Ann Polytechnic expects to send 100 students
annually on such internships to 10 cities including Bangkok.

[1] ACE was launched
in 2003 by Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry as a national effort to
foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Singapore. It was re-restructured in
2014 as a private-led initiative supported by the government to continue its
national mandate to drive entrepreneurship initiatives in Singapore.

Singapore: Tech-Driven Transportation for a Sustainable Workforce

The Land Transport Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 was unveiled by Minister of Transport S Iswaran. Developed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in close collaboration with industry and union partners, the updated Land Transport ITM aims to create a sustainable and resilient land transport sector, a workforce that is future-ready, and a thriving ecosystem.

The Land Transport ITM 2025 will assist the industry in overcoming the immediate challenges of labour shortages and decarbonisation. It aims to accomplish three strategic outcomes, including A Future-Ready Workforce, A Sustainable and Resilient Land Transport Sector, and A Reliable and Cost-Effective Transport System through Innovation and Technology.

“Talent development and skills upgrading for workers remain key to the land transport sector’s transformation and resilience,” says Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Co-Chair of the Future Economy Council (FEC) Connectivity Cluster. The LTA is collaborating with public transportation operators and unions to prepare workers for new challenges, ensuring that the workforce remains productive and future-ready.

The land transport industry, a critical pillar in enabling connectivity that supports the economy, can only do so thanks to the efforts of its employees. With over 100,000 employees, the workers perform a variety of roles such as bus captains, bus mechanics, customer service officers, railway engineers, station managers, and point-to-point (P2P) drivers.

The nature of work will also change as technology and digitalisation advance. As a result, under the revised ITM, the LTA will collaborate with the National Transport Workers Union (NTWU) and public transportation operators to train rail workers to use new and emerging technologies such as data and statistical analytics, as well as condition monitoring, to increase efficiency and productivity.

Since 2020, the Rail Manpower Development Incentive has helped over 2,900 workers improve their skills. Faults, for example, can be detected and physical checks reduced using video monitoring and image analysis.

Additionally, they are gradually enhancing the skills of their bus captains and technicians to operate electric buses. To create appropriate training programmes on cleaner energy buses for the bus workforce, the Singapore Bus Academy (SGBA) has been collaborating with pertinent stakeholders, including bus suppliers, Institutes of Higher Learning, NTWU, and bus operators.

To prepare the workforce to support Singapore’s push for vehicle electrification, LTA will also keep up its close collaboration with partners in the private transportation sector, such as tertiary institutions. Also, LTA will keep urging commuters to use public transportation or active transportation options under Walk Cycle Ride. By enhancing the infrastructure for EV charging and fortifying the EV regulatory framework, LTA is also encouraging greater adoption of EVs.

To increase the effectiveness of the land transportation system, industry and academic partners will use an open innovation strategy to draw on outside ideas. This includes decentralising data and working with others to develop creative solutions that will improve operational procedures and promote environmental sustainability.

To simplify outreach to industry partners, the LTA introduced the Land Transport Innovation Portal in September 2022 as a one-stop shop for all innovation-related issues. To assist partners in better understanding LTA’s requirements and identifying opportunities for co-innovation and collaboration, the portal disseminates operational problem statements from LTA as well as details on upcoming innovation events.

Additionally, it points potential innovators to the LTA DataMall’s data resources, which include over 130 static and dynamic datasets as well as a newly expanded catalogue of “On-Request Datasets” in an effort to spur more original ideas that can meet the needs of the land transportation industry.

New Smart Factory to Launch in Batu Kawan, Malaysia

A provider of Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) has announced plans to construct a Smart ‘Lights-Out’ Factory 4.0 in Batu Kawan, Penang, with an estimated cost of RM180 million. This development is expected to bring about significant changes in the Northern Peninsular region.

The factory will be involved in the production of Optical Modules, which are new 5G Advanced High Speed Optical Signal Transmitter and Receiver components for 5G wireless networks. The factory will use photonics and semiconductor technologies acquired through technology transfer from its US-based customer.

Construction of the Batu Kawan plant began in January 2023 and is expected to facilitate the first-ever technology transfer in Southeast Asia. This development is expected to enhance the skillset and competitiveness of the local workforce, and the plant is anticipated to hire around 1,000 highly skilled individuals once completed in the first half of 2024.

As part of their expansion plan announcement, the provider welcomed a delegation from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) to their location in Sg. Petani. The delegation was led by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Investment Development) and included the Senior State Executive Council Member (Kedah) and a Member of Parliament from Kubang Pasu, Kedah.

The EMS provider which currently employs approximately 3,000 staff, (representing about 1% of the Sg. Petani population), has expressed its intention to collaborate with local universities and colleges in actively training fresh graduates to become industry-savvy. Their “hire local first” policy prioritises employing Malaysians from the surrounding area, thus reducing their dependency on foreign labour.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Investment Development) of MIDA extended congratulations to the EMS provider, stating that they are pleased to see the company actively collaborating with local universities and colleges to train fresh graduates and improve their industry knowledge.

The company’s “hire local first” policy was also applauded for providing job opportunities to Malaysians in the surrounding area and reducing dependency on foreign labour, which in turn enhances the livelihoods of locals. These expansion plans are in line with the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) of attracting high-value investments to promote sustainable and comprehensive economic growth.

She added that Malaysia welcomes the firm’s expansion project, which utilises cutting-edge 5G technology, aligning with the government’s mandate for MIDA to drive the rapid digital transformation of the manufacturing sector. This development is expected to lead to improvements in productivity, job creation, and the enhancement of the skill set of Malaysians.

The new plant will implement the Lights-Out methodology, creating a fully networked environment that digitises material flow for autonomous manufacturing. A remote team of highly specialised experts will be responsible for data management, production planning, and quality control.

In addition to the Batu Kawan plant, the EMS provider is expanding its presence by constructing Smart Warehouses and an International Procurement Centre, which will feature Kedah’s first Vendor Management Inventory (VMI) system. These facilities, with a total cost of RM40 million, will cater to the provider’s own growing requirements and those of the surrounding industrial clusters in Sg Petani, Kedah, and Batu Kawan, Penang. The completion of these facilities is expected to be in 2024.

According to the firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the development of smart facilities is timely, given the Group’s expansion journey. The company has progressed from providing Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) and full-product box-build assembly to producing upstream 5G routers and soon 5G optical modules.

The provider aims to collaborate more closely with government authorities and agencies such as MIDA to increase the economic value of the state. Their current plant in Sg. Petani has already benefited from grants that encourage exports and innovation, and they hope to receive continued support for their future expansion plans.

In addition to grants, they appreciate open sessions for dialogue and feedback on current policies, so that government agencies can stay informed about the latest developments and challenges faced by industry players and formulate mutually-beneficial solutions.

AI, Innovation to Improve Public Service in Indonesia

President Jokowi stressed the need for constant innovation for ministries, agencies and regional governments to speed up services. Rising public expectations will be challenging to achieve without creative problem-solving.

Abdullah Azwar Anas, Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) said that new ideas are essential to enhancing the standard of government services. However, Anas emphasised that creating a new application for every breakthrough is unnecessary. Since there are presently over 27,000 applications for various public services from several government organisations, they have already been developed.

“It’s encouraging to see the government adopting new approaches to delivering services to make life easier for its constituents. But a new app development effort is not mandatory. No longer is there a ‘one invention, one use’,” he said when inaugurating the 2023 Public Service Innovation Competition (KIPP) Launch.

According to Anas, innovation should simplify people’s lives, not make them more difficult. Minister Anas has stated that integration and interoperability are essential in the future. Both are following the plans of the SPBE Electronic-Based Government System, as directed by President Joko Widodo. Single sign-on at digital public service malls (MPP) is a step towards simplifying all kinds of processes.

“In other words, gone are the days when locals seeking service A first downloaded app A, then manually created account A by entering extensive personal information. Accessing Service B requires using Application B; if you don’t already have a Service B account, you must make one and enter your information again. As well as the others. The populace is in disarray with thousands of service applications today,” he noted.

Furthermore, the government has carried out a digital transformation of public services using artificial intelligence to give convenient services to the community (AI). Diah Natalisa, Deputy for Public Services at the Ministry of Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), has emphasised the importance of digital services and how they improve the efficiency and accessibility of government programmes.

Diah explained that the Indonesian National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2020-2045 has already been formed. It identifies five priority sectors with promising prospects for AI’s advancement, application, and exploitation. Artificial intelligence innovations are first used in the healthcare industry to improve response times, increase patient numbers served, and lower overall healthcare costs.

Patients can allegedly access medical care via telemedicine without physically going to a clinic or doctor’s office. In addition, there are various ways to employ AI in the realm of bureaucratic reform, such as creating ChatBots that can provide 24-hour, two-way dialogue with the general public.

Meanwhile, Diah argued that the potential for the future growth of artificial intelligence would lead to precision learning in education. Learners’ routine actions are considered with their mental and emotional faculties and physical abilities.

Then, artificial intelligence can be applied to satellite photos in food security to determine which locations have access to electricity and which do not. It’s been theorised that this hypothetical can also be used to catalogue the crops cultivated in a particular region and forecast the yield of each crop.

AI will also help the future of transportation and intelligent urban planning. Diah presented the example of using AI for smart traffic management solutions to guarantee locals’ safe and efficient movement from one place to another.

The Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform is developing the Public Service Portal. The portal system’s AI will be optimised to predict and fulfil each user’s needs based on their unique traits.

Promoting and Creating AI Awareness in the Philippines

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines and the University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao aim to educate the public about the benefits and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in a variety of fields.

The country has recognised that AI is one of the technologies that is starting to change the way businesses and organisations work. Because AI has so many uses, it is starting to be utilised in many different areas, and its full potential is being realised and used in many markets. Hence, businesses and organisations in the Philippines are starting to pay attention to the benefits of this.

During the recent “1st AI Pinas Research and Development (R&D) Conference and Workshop 2023,” over one hundred participants, including local and international speakers, discussed the benefits of machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, computer vision, and deep learning applied to health, education, mobility, the environment, disaster risk reduction (DRR), industries, and smart and sustainable cities and communities.

Renato Solidum Jr, DOST Secretary acknowledged that AI has the potential to increase human productivity by automating routine tasks, analysing massive amounts of data, learning new information, and making well-informed decisions.

He added that they focused on the four investment pillars, and as a result, DOST has pledged financial support for the Philippines’ rapid scientific development in this area so that the nation can fully benefit from AI technologies.

Secretary Renato confirmed that the DOST has been collaborating with multiple stakeholders to make the AI R&D framework for 2019–2029 beneficial for its intended beneficiaries. The framework focuses on building a national infrastructure, which includes:

AI R&D centres;
Empowering more professionals through DOST-PCIEERD training and development; and
Encouraging more mission-driven programmes with unique applications.

He has emphasised that the Philippines are also enhancing its workforce’s capabilities. In collaboration with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP), and an open online course provider, three (3) AI Pinas training have produced 143 graduates.

Through the Smarter Philippines and R&D, Training, and Adoption (SPARTA) project, he hopes to upskill and launch the data science careers of the nation’s workforce as they aim to have 50,000 Filipino data scientists by 2029 to meet the needs and demands of the industry as they undergo digital transformation.

Dr Lyre Anni Murao, Chancellor of UP Mindanao, on the other hand, urged the use of AI to help with daily tasks, stating that AI should be given more credit for improving the quality of life and strengthening the capacity to contribute to global development.

On the other hand, Dr Enrico C. Paringit, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), stated that the “AI for Better Normal” investments, made possible in June 2021, have put them at the forefront of using AI to advance innovation in the country, as they have supported impactful AI projects across the country.

DOST-PCIEERD, as a leader and partner in enabling innovations in the Philippines, ensures that it strengthens local capabilities in the region. Initiatives like this strengthen ties with more developed countries and foster new collaborations that can spur future socioeconomic growth.

The event themed “Artificial Intelligence Driving Transformation and Impact in the Digital Age,” provided a forum for experts, researchers, professionals, enthusiasts, and prospective beneficiaries to update the R&D roadmap and develop a national AI R&D programme.

Monash University Partners to Boost MedTech and Healthcare Innovation

A significant partnership between a leading Victorian university and a top global hospital is poised to elevate MedTech breakthroughs and contribute to the enhancement of healthcare. The Minister for Industry and Innovation, Ben Carroll, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Monash University and Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. The MoU aims to foster research and development of more inclusive healthcare systems and MedTech manufacturing prospects in Victoria.

The Australian government will provide approximately AU$ 200,000 to Monash University’s Victorian Heart Institute in support of the MoU. The funding will facilitate access to cutting-edge technology, accelerate the adoption of new treatments for cardiovascular diseases, and help combat one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide.

The largest university in Australia, Monash University earned the title of the world’s best in Pharmacy and Pharmacology in 2022, becoming the first Australian institution to achieve this distinction. Meanwhile, Sheba Medical Centre acknowledged as one of the top hospitals globally has gained expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), robotic surgery, digital imaging and telemedicine. These capabilities were established through its in-house innovation hub.

This partnership is anticipated to improve the delivery of healthcare in Victoria and create opportunities for local companies to generate employment in MedTech research, manufacturing, and export.

Australia has extended support to various significant MedTech initiatives, including the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre (AU$20 million), mRNA Victoria, and MedTech startups through LaunchVic and the Breakthrough Victoria Fund. Victoria’s MedTech sector contributes AU$ 21.4 billion in revenue, AU$ 3.5 billion in exports and sustains around 31,400 jobs.

The Minister for Industry and Innovation expressed his approval of the partnership between Monash University and Sheba Medical Center, citing its potential to attract more investment to Victoria’s MedTech sector and enhance healthcare for Victorians.

The Minister for Health remarked that partnering with a global leader in digital health innovation such as Sheba Medical Center presents an excellent opportunity for Victoria.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Monash University highlighted the institution’s history of translating research into practical applications, underscoring that the partnership is another step towards improving health outcomes through the integration of research and translation.

The Director-General of Sheba Medical Centre stated that that the partnership aims to advance healthcare and promote economic growth while shifting the future of medicine towards prevention.

The Medical Technology market is expected to generate revenue of approximately US$579.40 billion by 2023. The largest segment of the market is Medical Devices, which is projected to reach a market volume of US$470.60 billion in 2023. Despite a regression in revenues in 2020 due to decreased routine medical treatments apart from COVID-19 treatments, the market has bounced back strongly in 2021. The market is expected to exhibit an annual growth rate of 4.91% between 2023-2027, resulting in a market volume of US$701.90 billion by 2027.

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the emphasis on early diagnosis and treatment by healthcare agencies are among the factors driving growth in the medical technology market. The Medical Technology market is essential to the healthcare sector, with a focus on diagnosing and treating health problems, conducting genetic research and improving physical mobility. Its multifunctional usage and health improvement attributes make it a key player in the industry with steady growth.

Thailand Supports Digital Entrepreneurs to Cultivate Innovations

Thailand organised discussions to share ideas and insights among the various parties involved in the digital startup ecosystem in Thailand. Digital advancements were discussed at a meeting between Dr Chinawut Chinaprayoon, Executive Vice President of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), and representatives from the Institute for Digital Startup Promotion and the Lower Northern Branch office in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai and Province of Phitsanulok.

Dr Chinawut convened a meeting with senior executives and professors from the faculties of engineering and the lower northern science park at Naresuan University, the faculty of engineering and the lower north science park at Phibunsongkhram Rajabhat University, and a group of young businessmen from the Phitsanulok Chamber of Commerce (YEC Phitsanulok).

To that end, Depa is prepared to give full attention to boosting local businesses and bolstering local entrepreneurs. Dr Chinawut emphasised the need to work together to define problems and goals to move forward as a team towards increasing digital technology exports at the national level.

Depa provided resources, such as guidance, measure and financing, to help and promote digital startup firms. The seed money aims to help new business owners get their operations up and running so they can start selling their wares to customers. The agency also provides Depa with a digital service that helps advertise, expand into new markets, and test new products. To further boost the acquisition of clients and target groups at the spot, they also developed a depa mini-Transformation Voucher.

While to encourage digital entrepreneurship growth, depa created a digital entrepreneur competition, HACKaTHAILAND 2023. Depa managed the HACKaTHAILAND 2023 competition roadshow to showcase digital initiatives and innovation in the country’s lower northern region. About 13 digital startups are competing, representing various industries and technology. To the qualified judges, they exhibit prototypes of digital solutions that will be developed to fulfil the needs of the digital economy and society. The judges come from various backgrounds, including the academic setting, startup organisations, startup founders, and the corporate world.

The judges are Ratchawut Pichayaphan, Founder of Fixi Co., Ltd.; Thanawit Tonkanya, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Horganai Limited; Sarawut Sattayawee, Assistant to the President Department of International Relations and Technology Transfer Naresuan University; Thanapat Rakpaisate.

Five further iterations of the HACKaTHAILAND 2023 Roadshow are scheduled to take place. Three rising star teams from the lower north area are qualified for the August final round of ideas competition in Bangkok.

1. The ATTRA group Digital business card-style authentication and identification platform ATTRA CARD. It has infinite potential for its new positions as a Portfolio Storage and is helpful to centralise your contacts and activity logs.

2. The Experience is a Service Marketplace for jobs, events, and other services, and it also lets people exchange knowledge in their preferred roles. Assist in shaping how each student achieves their full academic potential by focusing on developing individualised intellectual abilities and competencies, allowing for more leeway in the classroom and using study results and their interpretation.

3. DeliConn: A Reconciling Delivery Platform A method that speeds up the reconciliation process and saves accountants’ time. Thailand has been working to strengthen its internal manufacturing management and reduce waste and industrial production using digital technology solutions. DEPA and a national bank organised Digital Smart Manufacturing (DSM) training to help businesses learn the fundamentals of digital manufacturing.

The programme is meant to help Thailand achieve its goal of becoming a “Digital Thailand” by the year 2037. The country’s digital growth policy and plan were unveiled at a global conference held in Barcelona, Spain. The national programme is meant to propel the digitalisation of the economic and social strategy for 2018-2037.

ARENA Announces Funding for South Australia Power Networks

In Australia’s upcoming renewable energy landscape, there will be fresh prospects for cooperation between electricity networks and retailers to assist customers in optimising the potential of their own energy resources.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), acting on behalf of the government, has revealed that it will grant AU$1.02 million to SA Power Networks along with two energy companies to collaborate on creating and testing retailer solar management offers that are capable of functioning alongside the flexible connection offers of electricity networks (also known as ‘dynamic operating envelopes’). The aim is to provide customers with Consumer Energy Resources and a smooth and seamless experience.

Despite rooftop solar being the biggest source of energy generation in South Australia, the majority of systems are not capable of reacting to market signals. However, energy companies are striving to transform this by introducing innovative offers that incentivise customers to make their solar power responsive to pricing signals in the wholesale energy market.

The primary objective of the AU$ 2.1 million project is to facilitate the development of an integrated design for the new customer offers and SA Power Networks’ Flexible Export connections for rooftop solar. The rollout of this integration will begin in July 2023 as a standard service offering.

The integration of flexible export connections with innovative retail market offers is intended to optimise customers’ market participation opportunities while maintaining power flows within the technical limits of the network. This approach could potentially be expanded in the future to support other “behind-the-meter” equipment, such as batteries and electric vehicles.

Should the solutions developed prove effective, they could be adopted by other states within the National Electricity Market, thereby potentially unlocking wholesale market and network benefits.

Demand and generation flexibility present opportunities to lower energy costs, regulate peak and minimum demand, and shift energy loads to times when renewable energy is most abundant. This flexibility can be put into action in real-time, as a response to market signals, generation shortages, or network limitations.

According to the CEO of ARENA, intelligent management of rooftop solar has the potential to serve as a long-term solution for accommodating the growing influx of renewable energy into the market. He added that the project undertaken by SA Power Networks is a targeted and limited trial that will aid in shaping the development of future mechanisms for managing rooftop solar PV and other energy assets owned by customers.

According to the latest statistics from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water In the year 2020-21, renewable energy sources constituted 8% of Australia’s total energy consumption. While the production of renewable electricity has more than doubled over the last ten years, the combustion of biomass such as firewood and bagasse (the leftover pulp from sugar cane crushing) accounts for just under 40% (38%) of Australia’s overall renewable energy consumption.

In the year 2021, 29% of Australia’s overall electricity generation was derived from renewable energy sources, which comprised solar (12%), wind (10%) and hydro (6%). This represented the highest percentage of renewables in the country’s total electricity generation to date, with the previous record of 26% having been set in the mid-1960s.

Over the past decade, solar and wind power have been the primary forces behind the expansion of renewable generation, with their output having more than doubled. Small-scale solar generation saw a growth of 29% in 2021 and an average of 28% per year over the last 10 years. Wind generation, on the other hand, grew by 19% in 2021 and by an average of 15% per year over the last decade. In contrast, hydropower output has remained relatively consistent, subject to fluctuations due to rainfall and market conditions, and has decreased in importance as other sources of generation have diversified.

March 21, 2023

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Singapore’s Global Innovation Alliance network expands to Bangkok

Singapore: Tech-Driven Transportation for a Sustainable Workforce

New Smart Factory to Launch in Batu Kawan, Malaysia

AI, Innovation to Improve Public Service in Indonesia

Promoting and Creating AI Awareness in the Philippines

Monash University Partners to Boost MedTech and Healthcare Innovation

Thailand Supports Digital Entrepreneurs to Cultivate Innovations

ARENA Announces Funding for South Australia Power Networks

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