SINGAPORE - A fresh tender has been called by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to install solar panels across nine government organisations, said HDB in a press release on Sunday (Oct 16).

The solar leasing tender called on Oct 10 will collate demand for the installation of solar panels across nine government organisations including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and the State Courts - many of which are participating in the effort for the first time.

At a capacity of 40 Megawatt peak (MWP), this solar tender will see solar panels installed at 636 HDB blocks and 31 government sites located island-wide. These include primary schools, food centres and Tuas Desalination Plant.

The latest effort is part of the Government's push to install solar panels here under the SolarNova Programme led by the Economic Development Board.

Singapore hopes to have solar energy contribute to 5 per cent of its peak electricity demand or 350 megawatt peak by 2020.

This is the second time that a combined solar leasing tender has been called by HDB - the largest stakeholder in the installation of solar panels in Singapore. Last year, HDB had also called for a tender to install solar panels at various sites under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and national water agency PUB.

One key distinction from the first tender is that multiple companies may come together to make one bid for the tender.

HDB has committed to progressively roll out 220MWp of solar panels across 5,500 HDB blocks by 2020. With solar PV capacity of 220MWp, 265 gigawatt hours of clean energy can be generated annually - equivalent to powering about 55,000 four-room flats. This means that carbon emissions can be reduced by 132,500 tonnes each year.

This multi-agency solar leasing tender will close on Dec 30, and is estimated to be awarded in the first quarter of next year (2017).

The installation is expected to complete in quarter one of 2019.