Sunday, January 4, 2015

Solar power to produce 5% of electricity in Singapore by 2020

Singapore plans to introduce 350 MWp (5% of Singapore’s energgy mix) of solar capacity by 2020. Singapore 2013 electricity consumption is 43.23 billion kWh, which is equivalent to a 5 GW (5000 MW) plant running at full capacity.

The HDB and buildings roof top, including SAF barracks are considered for installation. In addition, there is pilot projects of floating solar plants using water sites.
The large scale deployment of solar around the world is due to the relentless drop in the cost of photovoltaic cell (PV cell), thanks to the ruthless cost cutting of China manufacturers. The cost of PV cell has drop from US$76.67 per watt in 1977, to US$0.36 per watt today.

A research by Germany has shown that solar power deployment especially at utility scale of deployment is competitive against not just natural gas, but coal which  is the cheapest energy source. The generation cost for utility PV can cost as low as €0.08 per kWh, which is around SG$0.13 per kWh. Natural gas generation cost somewhere from €0.07 to €0.10. The price of solar is expect to fall even further as technology improves and as well as economy of scale due to further mass production in China.

In comparison, Singaporeans are buying electricity at SG$0.18 kWh today, and that is after a massive drop of oil price. Given the abundance of sunshine in Singapore, it would be a matter of time before property owners to start generating their own electricity.

Singapore electricity Tariff Q1 2015 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Singapore and its neighour Malaysia should look into a partnership into atomic energy...expecially Thorium Reactor...not the fast breeder reactor which requires uranium which is more dangerous and the disposal of radioactive waste is expensive/cause environmental damage.

haiz.

Anonymous said...

WE HAVE BEEN READING YOUR POST LATELY .WE HAVE NOTICED THAT U HAVE USING YOUR INTELLIGENT AND TALENT TO GOOD USE.THIS KIND OF ARTICLES THAT WE LOVE TO READ.PLS WRITE MORE LIKE THIS BLOGS.BTW WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW MEDISAVE SHIELDS POLICY THAT GOING TO BE IMPLEMENT.CAN SMART VERITAS DO RESEARCH ON THIS? WE WOULD APPRECIATED IF U COULD HIGHLIGHT ON THIS MATTERS.THANKS.

Anonymous said...

This article, Lan Fang, the First Republic of Indonesia has been taken offline, heard about it when it was mentioned by Chan Chun Seng aka kee chui, I'm reposting it for your viewing pleasure.
(Actual article)
Lan Fang - Part 1
-
Kejayaan Lan Fang, Republik Pertama di Indonesia, yang "Berlanjut" di
Singapura

Nenek Lee Kuan Yew Orang Hakka dari Pontianak

Rabu, 29 Agustus 2012 , 00:09:00

Tjong Yu Fei, penjaga klenteng Lo Fang Pak, di Sungai Purun Besar,
Kecamatan Sungai Pinyuh, Pontianak tampak membersihkan sisa-sia hio yang
terbakar. Klenteng ini merupakan sisa peninggalan dari era kejayaan Lo
Fang Pak, pemimpin Republik Lan Fang di Kalimantan Barat. Foto : Hendra
Eka/Jawa Pos
Mantan Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Kuan Yew termasuk keturunan Lan
Fang. Sayang, restorasi jejak kebesaran republik pertama di Nusantara
tersebut justru lebih gencar dilakukan di Negeri Singa.

DHIMAS GINANJAR, Pontianak

LAN Fang memang sudah hancur sejak 1884. Namun, "kelanjutan" republik
kendati tak secara langsung yang didirikan oleh Lo Fang Pak di
Kalimantan Barat itu bisa dilihat di Singapura sekarang ini. Setidaknya
dalam bentuk banyaknya warga Negeri Singa itu yang merupakan keturunan
dari warga republik pertama di tanah air tersebut dan menduduki posisi
penting di sana.

Alkisah, pada 1884, Singkawang, Kalbar, wilayah dimana Lan Fang berada,
menolak untuk dikuasai Belanda. Akibatnya, wilayah yang saat ini
dijuluki Kota Seribu Kelenteng itu diserang. Warga setempat pun
kocar-kacir setelah sempat bertahan selama empat atau lima tahun
bertempur. Mereka melarikan diri ke Sumatera lantas ke Medan.

Beberapa kemudian melanjutkan pelarian hingga ke Singapura dan
melanjutkan pembangunan. Dan, tentu beranak pinak. Salah satunya mantan
Perdana Menteri Singapura Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), sosok yang membuat negeri
jiran Indonesia itu maju dan makmur seperti saat ini.

"Chua Kim Teng (kakek LKY) lahir di Singapura pada 1865. Setelah istri
pertama dan kedua meninggal, dia menikah dengan Neo Ah Soon, nenek saya,
seorang Hakka dari Pontianak yang saat itu dikuasai Belanda. Dia
berbicara dengan dialek Hakka dan bahasa Indonesia melayu," ujar LKY.

Ucapan itu disampaikan "Bapak Pembangunan Singapura" itu pada bukunya
yang berjudul: From Lee Kuan Yew, The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee
Kuan Yew. Adapun menurut Kao Chung Xi dalam bukunya tentang orang Hakka,
Jews of the Orient, orang Hakka minoritas di Singapura. Tapi, memainkan
peran penting dalam mendirikan Kongsi Lan Fang yang kedua di Singapura.

Seperti pernah diturunkan secara bersambung di harian ini pada 15-17
Agustus lalu, Lan Fang yang berawal dari sebuah kongsi tambang orang
Tionghoa dari etnis Hakka tumbuh menjadi semacam "negara di dalam
negara." Lan Fang yang berdiri pada 1777 itu memang masih membayar upeti
tanda tunduk kepada Kesultanan Sambas dan Mempawah di Kalbar, tapi
sehari-hari mereka sangat otonom.

Karena tata pemerintahannya sangat demokratis dibandingkan kongsi-kongsi
lain yang umumnya bergaya feodal, secara tak langsung Lan Fang pun
mendapat julukan "republik." Diberi tanda kutip karena secara de facto,
tidak ada pengakuan internasional kepada republik yang dipimpin Lo Fang
Pak tersebut.

Anonymous said...

Lan Fang - Part 2

Meski, kenyataannya, syarat untuk terbentuknya sebuah republik telah
terpenuhi. Tak cuma punya rakyat dan wilayah, Lan Fang rutin menghelat
pemilu untuk memilih "presiden." Lan Fang juga memiliki sistem
perekonomian, perbankan, dan Hukum sendiri. Republik ini mampu bertahan
hidup selama 107 tahun.

Kisah sejarah Republik Lan Fang sejatinya mulai direstorasi oleh
berbagai pihak. Salah satunya, adalah situs
lanfangchronicles.wordpress.co m yang tiga tahun ini sudah membuat
pameran tentang Lan Fang di Singapura. Berbagai peninggalan Lan Fang
telah pula direstorasi.

Mulai dari miniatur bentuk uang, menara perlindungan, lukisan-lukisan
dan foto zaman dahulu, hingga membuat pagelaran puisi tentang perang
kongsi. Pagelaran tersebut bahkan masuk menjadi agenda rutin Singapore
Art Fest. Ironis memang, semua itu dilakukan oleh warga Singapura, bukan
Indonesia sebagai pemilik sejarah.

Soedarto, sejarawan Kalbar saat ditemui Jawa Pos di Pontianak
pertengahan bulan ini memaklumi hal itu. Sebab, arsip-arsip tentang Lan
Fang sudah tidak ada lagi di tanah air. Termasuk juga arsip-arsip
sejarah lainnya. "Semuanya ada di luar, dibawa Raffles ke Inggris
(Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, mantan Gubernur Jenderal Inggris di
Indonesia dan pendiri Singapura, red)," katanya.

Dia menyebutkan kalau arsip negara yang dibawa menuju Inggris mencapai
30 ton. Kalau Indonesia mau menelusuri perjalanan sejarah bangsa secara
utuh, arsip-arsip itu harus dikembalikan. Jika masih berada di museum
Royal London, penelusuran itu sangat sulit dilakukan.

Bercerita tentang ketidakpedulian akan sejarah bisa jadi sudah
membosankan. Itulah kenapa, Soedarti hanya bisa diam saat mengingat
beberapa arsip tentang masa lalu Kalbar sudah menghilang. "Termasuk
syair Perang Kenceng, bagian dari perang antar kongsi, itu kini ada di
Malaysia," gumamnya.

Dia ingat, hilangnya arsip dari tanah air bukan hanya terjadi saat era
penjajahan saja. Pasca kemerdekaan juga ada, prasasti dan arsip tersebut
dijual dengan satu alasan: ekonomi. Soedarto menyebut barang berharga
itu rela ditukar dengan rupiah untuk memenuhi kebutuhan sehari-hari.

Atas dasar itulah, Soedarto mengaku tak tahu banyak tentang keturunan Lo
Fang Pak. Yang bisa dia pastikan adalah, para pemimpin Lan Fang harus
murni orang Hakka. Benar-benar pure orang Tionghoa dari tanah Tiongkok.
Mereka yang lahir di tanah Borneo dapat dipastikan tak bisa duduk di
puncak pimpinan.

Terkait keabsahan keturunan orang-orang Lan Fang di Singapura, Soedarto
yang mantan guru sejarah itu menjawab bisa jadi seperti itu. Kuatnya Lan
Fang menjadi daya tarik bagi perantauan Tiongkok untuk terus datang.
Bahkan Pontianak dulunya menjadi tempat transit bagi mereka yang ingin
ke Mandor, ibu kota Lan Fang.

"Sampai sekarang, semuanya tersebar sampai kemana-mana," terangnya.
Bagaimana dengan peninggalan budaya" Soedarto mengatakan ada. Namun, dia
tidak sepakat kalau itu kebudayaan yang dibuat khusus oleh Lo Fang Pak
dan pemimpin Lan Fang lainnya. Sebab, mereka hanya "menularkan"
kebiasaan itu ke Kalbar.

Seperti halnya konsep tea house atau rumah minum teh. Warga keturunan
dulu pasti punya tempat khusus untuk minum teh. Entah di rumah mereka
atau di sekitar perkampungannya. Meski sekarang tea house mungkin sudah
tak ada, bentuk lain dari kebudayaan itu masih bisa ditemui.

"Budaya warung kopi itu sebenarnya berasal dari orang-orang Tionghoa.
Mereka biasanya minum bersama banyak orang sambil membicarakan banyak
hal," tandasnya. Efek lainnya ada pada orang-orang Tionghoa saat ini,
versi Soedarto, mereka masih disebut peranakan karena tetap konsisten
dengan budayanya.

Padahal, warga Tionghoa asli Kalbar saat ini bisa dipastikan sudah
melakukan akulturasi, terutama dengan orang Dayak. Itu bisa dipastikan
karena saat datang ke Kalbar pada 1770an mereka datang sebagai bujangan.
Kolonial dan Kesultanan tidak memperbolehkan mereka membawa istri.

Anonymous said...

Lan Fang - Part 3

Kalaupun mereka kemudian mencoba mempertahankan kemurnian dengan menikah
sesama Tionghoa, tetap saja nenek mereka adalah orang Dayak. Karena itu,
Soedarto agak kurang sreg menyebut warga Tionghoa di Kalbar yang
mencapai 12 persen sebagai "peranakan." "Banyak yang sudah campuran,
apalagi generasi sekarang juga makin membuka diri," tuturnya.

Budayawan lain, Xaverius Fuad Asali, juga menyebut kalau peninggalan
budaya Lo Fang Pak sama dengan kebudayaan Tiongkok sendiri. Itulah
kenapa, dia menyebut tak ada budaya dengan ciri khas khusus yang dibawa
Lo Fang Pak.

Dia lantas menjelaskan ciri khas orang Hakka yang menginjakkan kaki di
Kalbar. Semuanya datang seorang diri alias bujangan, tanpa membawa
istri. Mereka tidak mempermasalahkan hal itu karena orang-orang Hakka
dikenal rajin dan hemat. "Kalau buyut saya masuk tahun 1850an," ingatnya.

Kedatangan orang-orang Hakka semacam Lo Fang Pak dan teman-temannya
relatif tidak menimbulkan gesekan sosial. Sebab, orang Hakka dikenal
mampu membawa diri, ibarat pepatah dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit
dijunjung. Di samping itu, sebagai pendatang, mereka juga punya
keterampilan.

X.F Asali menyebut keterampilan itu adalah bertani. Ada juga yang datang
sebagai guru seperti Lo Fang Pak, tukang besi, emas, kayu, hingga
kerajinan tangan. Kemampuan melebur itu terbukti hingga sekarang, tak
pernah ada konflik besar. "Buyut perempuan saya juga orang Dayak," akunya.

Itu sebabnya, kalau dikaitkan dengan pelarian orang-orang Hakka Kalbar
ke Singapura dan melakukan pembangunan bisa jadi benar. Apalagi, Any
Rahmayani, peneliti dari Balai Pelestarian Sejarah dan Nilai Tradisional
Pontianak, menyebut orang-orang Lan Fang mampu berdagang ke beberapa
daerah dan negara.

Berbagai referensi juga menyebut kalau Lan Fang memiliki hubungan
perdagangan yang disebut dengan segitiga emas. Yakni, menghubungkan
antara Lan Fang, Tiongkok, dan negara di Semenanjung Malaysia, hingga
Vietnam. "Lemahnya kesultanan yang hanya tertarik dengan upeti membuat
Lan Fang bebas bertransaksi dengan yang lain," tuturnya.

Embrio tersebarnya orang-orang Hakka yang menjadi penduduk Lan Fang
terlihat jelas dari pola perdagangan itu. Memang masih perlu banyak
pembuktian akan keterkaitan antara Singapura dan Lan Fang. Namun, itu
bisa menjadi awal yang tepat bagi pemerintah untuk menggali lebih dalam
tentang Lan Fang. Supaya kisah tesebut tetap besar di Indonesia, tidak
hanya di negara tetangga. (*/ttg)

(m.jpnn.com Kejayaan Lan Fang, Republik Pertama di Indonesia, yang 'Berlanjut' di Singapura)
http://www.jpnn.com/m/news.php?id=137889
-
(Singapore Notes: Gender Wars)
http://singaporedesk.blogspot.sg/2015/03/gender-wars.html

Joshua Chiang

Anonymous said...

This article, Lan Fang, the First Republic of Indonesia has been taken offline, heard about it when it was mentioned by Chan Chun Seng aka kee chui, I'm reposting it for your viewing pleasure.
(English translation)
Lan Fang - Part 1
-
Features
Triumph Lan Fang, the First Republic of Indonesia, the "Continues" in Singapore
Grandma Lee Kuan Yew Hakka People of Pontianak

Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 00:09:00

Tjong Yu Fei, Fang Lo Pak temple guards, on the River Great Purun, Pinyuh River District, Pontianak looks cleans traces of burning incense. This pagoda are the remnants of the golden era of Mr. Lo Fang, Fang Lan Republican leaders in West Kalimantan. Photo: Hendra Eka / Jawa Pos
Former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew including descendants Lan Fang. Unfortunately, restoration traces of greatness in the archipelago of the first republic was more intensively carried out in lion country.

Dhimas Gina, Pontianak

LAN Fang had been destroyed since 1884, however, "continuation" of the republic although not directly established by Mr. Fang Lo in the West Kalimantan can be seen in Singapore today. At least in the form of lion country many citizens who are descendants of the first republic of citizens in the homeland and occupy important positions there.

Once, in 1884, Singkawang, West Kalimantan, the area where Lan Fang was, refused to master the Netherlands. As a result, the area that is now called the City of Thousand Temples were attacked. Locals were in a mess after had lasted for four or five years of fighting. They then fled to Sumatra to Medan.

Some then went on the run up to Singapore and continued development. And, of course breed. One of them is a former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew (LKY), a figure that makes the neighboring country Indonesia was developed and prosperous as it is today.

"Chua Kim Teng (LKY grandfather) was born in Singapore in 1865 after the first and second wife died, he married the Neo Ah Soon, my grandmother, a Hakka from Pontianak which was then controlled by the Dutch. Hakka dialect he spoke with Indonesian and Malay , "said LKY.

Speech was delivered "father of development of Singapore" was on his book entitled: From Lee Kuan Yew, The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. As according to Kao Chung Xi in his book about the Hakka people, the Jews of the Orient, the Hakka minority in Singapore. But, plays an important role in establishing Lan Fang Kongsi second in Singapore.

As ever lowered serialized in this newspaper on 15-17 August, Lan Fang who came from a mining joint venture of ethnic Hakka Chinese people grew into a kind of "state within a state." Lan Fang standing in 1777 it was still paying tribute sign and submit to the Sultanate of Sambas in West Kalimantan Mempawah, but everyday they are very autonomous.

Because of its governance was democratic than other kongsis generally feudal style, indirectly Lan Fang also got the nickname "republic." Be quoted as a de facto, there is no international recognition led to the republic that Mr. Fang Lo.

Anonymous said...

Lan Fang - Part 2

Although, in fact, a condition for the formation of a republic have been met. Not only have the people and the area, Lan Fang menghelat routine election to choose a "president." Lan Fang also has a system of economy, banking, and the law itself. The republic can survive for 107 years.

Lan Fang Republic historical tale actually began to be restored by various parties. One of them, was the site of the three-year lanfangchronicles.wordpress.co m has been made on Lan Fang exhibition in Singapore. Various relics Lan Fang has also been restored.

Ranging from miniature form of money, tower protection, paintings and photographs of old, to make a joint venture performances of poetry about war. These performances even go into the regular agenda Singapore Art Fest. Ironically, it was all done by the citizens of Singapore, Indonesia as the owner is not history.

Soedarto, when met historian Kalimantan Pontianak Jawa Pos in the middle of this month tolerate it. Therefore, the archives of Lan Fang no longer exists in this country. Including other historical archives. "Everything was on the outside, was brought to England Raffles (Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, the former British Governor General in Indonesia and the founder of Singapore, ed)," he said.

He mentions that the state archives that was brought to England reach 30 tons. If Indonesia wants to trace the history of the nation as a whole, the records should be returned. If the museum is still in the Royal London, it is very difficult search.

Tells the story of an indifference to history may be too boring. That is why, when the silent Soedarti can only remember some of the past records of West Kalimantan has disappeared. "Including kenceng War poem, part of a joint venture between the wars, it is now in Malaysia," he muttered.

He recalls, loss of soil water records not only the case when only the colonial era. After independence also, inscriptions and records were sold for one reason: the economy. Soedarto call valuables were willing to exchange for dollars to meet their daily needs.

On this basis, Soedarto claimed to not know much about Mr. Fang Lo descent. Can he be sure is, leaders must Lan Fang pure Hakka people. Really pure Chinese from Chinese soil. Those born in the land of Borneo certainly can not sit at the top of the leadership.

Related validity of the descendants of the Lan Fang in Singapore, a former history teacher Soedarto the answer could be like that. Lan Fang strong appeal to the overseas Chinese to keep coming. Pontianak even used to be a transit point for those who want to Foreman, the capital of Lan Fang.

"Until now, all scattered up everywhere," he explained. What about the cultural heritage "Soedarto say no. However, he does not agree that it is the culture that made special by Lo Fang Fang Lan Pak and other leaders. Because they just" pass "the habit to West Kalimantan.

Just as the concept tea house or tea house. Residents first offspring must have a special place for tea. Whether in their homes or around perkampungannya. Although the tea house might now gone, another form of culture that can still be found.

"The culture of the coffee shop was actually derived from the Chinese people. They usually drink with a lot of people while talking about a lot of things," he said. The other effect is on the Chinese people today, Soedarto version, they are still referred to as consistent with the Peranakan culture.

In fact, the original Chinese citizens WK today could certainly have been done acculturation, especially the Dayaks. That is certainly because when it comes to West Kalimantan on 1770an they come as bachelors. Colonial and Empire did not allow them to bring the wife.

Anonymous said...

Lan Fang - Part 3
If they then try to maintain the purity of the Chinese marry each other, they are nonetheless grandmother Dayaks. Because of this, a little less comfortable calling Soedarto Chinese people in West Kalimantan, which reached 12 percent as "breed." "Many have a mix, especially the generation now is also more open up," he said.

Another humanist, Xavier Fuad Asali, also mention that Mr Fang Lo cultural heritage together with the Chinese culture itself. That is why, he mentions no culture with a special characteristic that brought Mr. Lo Fang.

He then explained the hallmark of Hakka people who set foot in West Kalimantan. Everything came alone aka bachelor, without a wife. They did not make it because of the Hakka people are known industrious and frugal. "If my great-grandfather entered the 1850s," he remembers.

The arrival of the Hakka people sort Fang Lo Pak and his friends do not give rise relative social friction. Therefore, Hakka people are known to put yourself, like a proverb which stand on the earth, there heaven upheld. In addition, as migrants, they also have the skills.

XF Asali call it skill is farming. There is also a teacher like Mr. Fang Lo, blacksmith, gold, wood, until the craft. Proven ability to melt it until now, there was never a major conflict. "My great-grandfather was also the Dayak women," he admits.

That's why, when associated with runaway Hakka people of West Kalimantan to Singapore and the construction could be true. Moreover, Any Rahmayani, researchers from the Institute of History and Preservation of Traditional Values ​​Pontianak, called the Lan Fang was able to trade in some regions and countries.

Many references also mention that Lan Fang has a trading relationship with the so-called Golden Triangle. Namely, the connection between Lan Fang, China, and countries in Peninsular Malaysia, to Vietnam. "The weakness of the empire which was only interested in making Lan Fang tribute to transact freely with others," he said.

Embryos spread the Hakka people who become resident Lan Fang obvious from the trading patterns. It still needs a lot of evidence of the link between Singapore and Lan Fang. However, it could be the beginning of the right for the government to dig deeper into the Lan Fang. Proficiency level so that the story remains big in Indonesia, not only in the neighboring countries. (* / Know about)

(m.jpnn.com Kejayaan Lan Fang, Republik Pertama di Indonesia, yang 'Berlanjut' di Singapura)
http://www.jpnn.com/m/news.php?id=137889
-
(Singapore Notes: Gender Wars)
http://singaporedesk.blogspot.sg/2015/03/gender-wars.html

Joshua Chiang