Year-end Message from Sunseap Group CEO, Mr Frank Phuan

By Jeffrey Selamutu
December 21, 2021

1. What has been one of the company's biggest achievement this year?

I would say it's the Memorandum of Understanding we signed with a group of local and international partners to explore and develop solar power systems with a combined capacity of 7-gigawatt peak (GWp) around Indonesia's Riau islands. The project will also include multiple Energy Storage Systems totaling more than 12 gigawatt-hours (GWhr).

This will be one of the most consequential clean energy projects for both countries, establishing Singapore and Batam as a clean energy gateway and hub. We are excited to work with our esteemed partners to set up the ASEAN Green Power Grid.

2. What are some of the changes which Sunseap made because of Covid 19?

One of the main changes came about from looking for a practical solution to a manpower crunch. When the circuit-breaker was announced, foreign labourers who worked on the OFPV could not leave their dormitories. Even in pre-pandemic times, the foreign workers who received technical training would eventually complete their contracts and return to their home countries. With the clean energy sector poised to expand and grow, we had to make a meaningful change. It was prudent to grow a local talent pool to support Singapore's pivot towards Sustainability.

After meeting with government ministries, agencies, and a few other parties, we unveiled a redesigned career path for Solar Technologists. The role offered a higher starting salary, built-in upskills training and opportunities for specialization and promotion into management roles. It was important to make these clean energy jobs attractive and competitive. Looking at the new Solar Technologists who joined Sunseap this year, we are on the right path.

3. What do you see as the pandemic's lasting effect on business?

The past 18 months of the pandemic have really placed sustainability front and center of people's minds. The pandemic affected everyone, and people question the security of the supply chain, security of energy and the viability and sustainability of energy, as well as their collective carbon footprint.

On some levels, the pandemic has led to this moment which I see as the golden era of renewables. People no longer think about renewables as an alternate source but the main source. With the government's strong support for sustainability with The Green Plan 2030, Singapore is well-placed to be the hub for the region’s Green Grid.

4. What are you most looking forward to in 2022?

This past October, we were delighted to welcome EDP Renewables (EDPR), the world's 4th largest clean renewable energy producer, as a major shareholder in Sunseap. We are excited to work closely with EDPR to explore complementary synergies for greater scale and efficiency. It is an exciting new landscape which also includes collaborating in areas such as energy storage and green hydrogen.

On a personal note, I hope that Covid will continue to become less of a health risk and that life can look more like the way it used to be.

Thank you for all hard work in 2021. Happy New Year, everyone!