Danish multinational engineering group, Danfoss, has unveiled Asia Pacific’s first Sustainability Technology Center (STC) in Singapore today at the Nordic European Center, International Business Park, Singapore.
Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, the STC is set to become a prime gateway for introducing global decarbonisation solutions to bolster the region’s sustainability efforts through technological development and strategic partnerships.
As a hub for competence development, the Center will also help to localise tried and tested solutions Danfoss has to offer to the Asia Pacific region, empowering local partners with the knowledge and skills for effective implementation of sustainable technologies.
The launch event was graced by Her Excellency, Ms. Tan Poh Hong, Singapore Ambassador to Denmark; Ms. Birgit Dohmann Chang, Deputy Head of Mission at Danish Embassy; Mr. Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO of Singapore Polytechnic; Mr. Kim Fausing, President and CEO of Danfoss; together with Mr. Jan Schoemaker, Regional President of Danfoss Asia Pacific Region; and Astrid Mozes, President Regions of Danfoss, commemorating Danfoss’ work and commitment to the green initiatives globally. Over 80 esteemed partners including business leaders, government embassies, agencies and institutions of higher learning were also in attendance.
Interchanging ideas and innovation
The STC will showcase live demonstrations of Danfoss’ global decarbonisation solutions, where visitors get to witness groundbreaking technologies that underpin some of Singapore’s key sustainability projects. This includes the Electric Dream Ferry and Keppel Bay Tower, Singapore’s first BCA Green Mark Platinum Zero Energy commercial building. Apart from showcasing Danfoss’ novel marine electrification solutions, the STC will double up as a training, pre-testing and commissioning ground for future adopters.
Kim Fausing, President and CEO, Danfoss commented on the opening of the STC:
“Today marks another significant milestone for Danfoss. The Sustainability Technology Center will be a gateway for collaboration, partnerships, innovation, development, and elevating skills in sustainability solutions through training and application development. Seeing is believing, and this Center will serve as a platform for showcasing live decarbonisation solutions to our customers and partners. Singapore’s sustainability initiatives and infrastructure make it a prime location to drive decarbonisation efforts across the region and beyond. Personally, I am thrilled to witness the Sustainability Technology Center taking off successfully and accelerating the implementation of sustainability initiatives in Singapore and the wider Asia Pacific region. Being part of the solution to build a better future is what our purpose in Danfoss is all about.”
Situated at the central location of Asia Pacific, Singapore is easily accessible for various customers in the region, making this STC geographically strategic to support the different sustainability goals across the Asia Pacific countries. In addition, this STC is an expansion from the previous Green Building Training Center, that was launched in 2020, and the Marine Electrification Application Development Center (ADC) which was previously housed in the Danfoss Singapore Office. With a bigger space, we are now capable of showcasing more energy-efficient innovations for various megatrends.
Technologies that drive a sustainable change across industries
With a specialisation in Buildings, Food & Beverage, Land & Marine Electrification, and Industrial green technologies, the STC will showcase technologies to decarbonise cities and improve energy efficiency across various sectors. These solutions aim to play a pivotal role in Singapore’s roadmap to reach its sustainability commitments made at COP28, as well as its Green Plan 2030 goals. Its proprietary district cooling method alone saves up to 50 per cent of energy compared to conventional cooling systems.
Danfoss’ past projects in Singapore, such as the retrofitted Keppel Bay Tower that validates over 45 per cent energy savings, and its first plug-in parallel hybrid-electric fast launch vessel powered by Danfoss Editron – which saves between 10 to 20 per cent in emissions compared to traditional vessels, will also be spotlighted at the STC. Danfoss’ advanced heat exchangers, sensors, direct current (DC) charging panel technologies that serve as the foundation of Shell’s electric dream ferry design, Singapore’s first fully electric ferry service, will also be displayed live.
In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Singapore’s 30-by-30 goals, Danfoss looks to safeguard food security and lower energy consumption across Food and Beverage partners across the region with the introduction of its vertical farming and CO2 cold room technologies. Leveraging thermo-physical properties of CO2 and expansion energy ejectors, these technologies help refrigerants scale at greater temperatures, while increasing overall system efficiency.
Forging partnerships with eyes towards the future
The STC will also foster the collaborative development of innovative sustainable solutions for traditional industries such as mining, palm oil, and construction. Specialised training to harness application of technologies will form the bedrock of the STC, as it works together with local partners and industries that are moving towards an environmentally conscious future.
Danfoss is also taking active steps to support Singapore Polytechnic (SP) in its efforts to make the entire educational campus CO2 neutral by 2030, as Singapore gears towards having at least one in five educational institutions reach carbon neutrality by 2030. The blueprint for SP comes from the ProjectZero model based on the town of Sønderborg, Denmark which is on track to be CO2 neutral in its energy system by 2029.
Danfoss is joining ProjectZero in assisting the polytechnic with knowledge, concepts, implementation models, and cost-effective solutions for decarbonizing the campus. Being Singapore’s first and oldest polytechnic in 2023 to achieve carbon neutrality campus wide, more than 12,800 SP students have set out to contribute to the goal. Housed in the STC, the ProjectZero model was also recognised by the World Economic Forum and UN Habitat as a “replicable, adaptable and scalable” decarbonisation model for cities worldwide, effectively reducing the costs of the green transition by up to 50 per cent.
Noting the significance of this project, Soh Wai Wah, Principal and CEO of Singapore Polytechnic shares:
“Singapore is the nerve center of the region’s sustainable technology development, and the sentiments resonate with students as well. Danfoss’ pioneering technologies are inspiring the next generation of changemakers to a suite of world-class sustainability technologies, and it has become a stimulus to embrace the challenges that can be seen as a roadblock to meeting the 2030 goals. We are excited about our plans of incorporating Danfoss’ STC into Singapore Polytechnic’s Sustainability Learning Journey, offering SMEs the opportunity to explore a range of decarbonisation solutions for their environments.”
The partnership between the institution and Danfoss marks the beginning of a long-term commitment towards developing state-of-the-art technologies that will accelerate Singapore’s efforts for energy efficiency and carbon neutrality.
Dino Tan, Head of Region (Designate), International Operations, Europe, Singapore Economic Development Board also shared his sentiments and support:
“We are excited by Danfoss’ decision to establish its Sustainability Technology Centre in Singapore. The facility is a valuable addition to our ecosystem and reinforces our strength as a location for innovation and partnerships. We look forward to seeing the company develop new sustainability solutions with its local and regional partners and contribute to our sustainability goals.”
Working towards its mission “To help the world build a better future”, the STC aims to bring greater value and transformation to partners across the Asia-Pacific region through the most relevant technological application portfolios. By empowering changemakers with the knowledge and capabilities necessary for navigating and implementing sustainable practices effectively, Danfoss looks to enable a greener tomorrow for all.
About Danfoss A/S
Danfoss engineers solutions that increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enable electrification. Our solutions are used in such areas as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, power conversion, motor control, industrial machinery, automotive, marine, and off- and on-highway equipment. We also provide solutions for renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, as well as district-energy infrastructure for cities. Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933. Danfoss is family- and foundation-owned, employing more than 42,000 people, serving customers in more than 100 countries through a global footprint of 95 factories.
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