Published March 16, 2009

Not enough S'poreans to fill cleantech jobs

By JAMIE LEE

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(SINGAPORE) Some 1,200 jobs are up for grabs in the clean technology (cleantech) industry this year, says the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Most of the jobs would be created from investments by wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems and solar cell manufacturer Renewable Energy Corporation, EDB's director of cleantech, Goh Chee Kiong, told BT in a recent interview.

But there are not enough Singaporeans who can fill the specialist jobs - Vestas employees span 20 nationalities.

'There's a clear gap today,' Mr Goh said. 'It's safe to say that companies want to hire Singaporeans as much as they can if they can find the skill sets. But there are many instances where there's just insufficient Singaporean talent.'

EDB is also bracing for a pullback in new investments in the sector during the recession, though Mr Goh said that it was still 'early days' to assess the extent of the impact.

'There's no doubt that the current financial crunch has affected this industry,' he said. 'If people are building a wind farm or a solar farm, there are going to be more difficulties than usual in raising the money, so that has set the market back.'

A new incubator fund has been set up to attract cleantech investments. Capped at $500,000, the loan would be offered to start-ups, which have to meet criteria in accumulated revenue and technological breakthroughs over three to four years.

At the end of five years from the time the loan is taken, the company must repay it at 1.25 times the original sum.

However, if the start-ups are unable to meet targets, EDB is prepared to write off the investment, Mr Goh said.

But to avoid counterintuitive strategies by start-ups in setting high revenue targets during the recession, the EDB would set balanced terms that 'reflect the success' of these companies, said Mr Goh.

EDB is in talks with a few local and international companies to disburse the grants, he added.

Besides looking at cleantech manufacturing, EDB is keen to encourage developers and businesses to fit energy-efficient or cleantech features and facilities into buildings and other infrastructures.

'That is a new emerging area that many parts of Asia are not accustomed to, and we believe we can develop a niche in that,' said Mr Goh.

For example, water treatment plants built in rural areas may require solar panels to generate power to treat water for the villages, since the plants have no electricity, said Mr Goh.

Singapore is largely seen as clean and green, though some quarters feel that it ought to take a tougher stance on environmental policies, given its high gross domestic product (GDP) and steep per capita carbon dioxide emissions.

'Singapore's image as a clean and green nation has been well accepted by many societies in the world,' said Mr Goh, when asked about criticisms of Singapore's green policies.