National Energy Efficiency Conference (NEEC) 2025 - Dr Janil Puthucheary

1.      Good morning. I am happy to join you at this year's National Energy Efficiency Conference, or NEEC in short.

2.      Since 2011, NEEC has been a key platform for sharing ideas and best practices in energy efficiency. It is also a platform to celebrate companies and individuals who excel in energy efficiency and carbon abatement through the Energy Efficiency National Partnership Awards. These awards highlight outstanding practices and inspire others by showing how energy efficiency and decarbonisation solutions can bring both environmental and economic benefits.

3.      For the first time, NEA is co-organising NEEC in collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC). This year’s theme is 'Advancing Energy Efficiency for Net Zero: Connecting Regional and Global Action'. Undergirding the theme is the importance of partnerships in creating solutions and building a stronger ecosystem to help businesses reduce carbon emissions.

The Climate Imperative

4.      The world faces unprecedented challenges in fighting climate change. Last year was the hottest on record, with global temperatures more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate change is causing more extreme weather events, making the need for collective action ever more urgent.

5.      As an alternative-energy disadvantaged country, importing most of our energy, Singapore must plan carefully for our energy future. Energy efficiency is key to our sustainability efforts and energy security. At COP29, Singapore joined countries worldwide in pledging to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, underscoring the critical role of energy efficiency in achieving climate goals. Businesses worldwide now see that environmental sustainability and economic success go hand in hand. Energy efficiency is one of the most practical tools we have. It helps reduce carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and keep businesses competitive in a world focused on cutting carbon.

6.      Energy efficiency gains can be reaped in small and big ways. For example, raising the air-conditioning temperature from 24°C to 25°C can cut cooling energy use by 6–12%. This saves about S$6,400 a year for a typical 3,000 m² office. NEA has partnered the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) to launch the Go 25 movement in May 2025, encouraging organisations to keep indoor temperatures at 25°C or higher. If your organisation has not pledged to Go 25, I urge you to do so through SGBC’s website.

Transforming Industry Approaches: Advancing Integrated Solutions

7.      The industrial sector makes up about two-thirds of Singapore’s emissions. We have thus focused our attention on the energy efficiency of the sector over the years, with the aim of reducing Singapore’s carbon footprint. This ranges from setting minimum standards for common industrial equipment, to having in place schemes like the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions (REG(E)) to support companies in changing out less efficient equipment and processes.

8.      Companies are now adopting holistic approaches to meet their long-term carbon reduction goals. This year’s EENP submissions show more companies integrating carbon reduction and greenhouse gas management with energy efficiency efforts.

9.      One example is Novartis Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, this year's Excellence in Energy, Greenhouse Gas Management award winner. Novartis’ newly installed combined heat and power system generates electricity, steam and hot water, producing up to 25% more useful energy output than conventional grid and heating systems. Coupled with the solar panels deployed on their rooftops, open grounds and car park that generate 3,000 megawatt-hours annually, Novartis cut over 3,600 tonnes of annual carbon emissions. Alongside other efforts such as optimising their Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and constructing a centralised utilities plant, Novartis achieved more than 10,800 tonnes of carbon abatement in 2024.

Connecting Regional and Global Action

10.    While company efforts are important, cross-border sharing of best practices and innovations can take energy efficiency and carbon abatement to the next level to catalyse changes across industries.

11.   Micron Technology, another Excellence in Energy, Greenhouse Gas Management award winner, embodies this. Recognised as a Sustainability Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum, Micron actively shares best practices and innovative solutions through energy efficiency workshops across their regional and global sites. Notably, Micron pioneered the first catalytic central abatement system in Singapore, which removed more than 90% of fluorinated greenhouse gases with approximately 35% cost savings and 90% reduction in fuel consumption compared to conventional point-of-use abatement technologies used in its older facilities.

Strengthening Support for Industry Action

12.    While these success stories are inspiring, we know many businesses, especially SMEs, may find it hard to start. They may lack scale, technical knowledge, or resources to begin energy efficiency projects. Strong support systems and partnerships are crucial.

13.    The EETC under Singapore Institute of Technology was set up in 2020 with NEA’s funding support to help SMEs overcome these challenges in undertaking energy efficiency projects. Since EETC’s inception to end March 2025, EETC has helped over 40 SMEs assess over 200 energy systems, identifying opportunities that could collectively yield more than 17,000 megawatt-hours in energy savings. EETC also trains local energy efficiency practitioners, with nearly 500 professionals upskilled and more than 100 students gaining hands-on experience through attachments. Their co-organisation of NEEC 2025 this year demonstrates their commitment to sharing expertise and advancing industry solutions.

14.    To support manufacturing SMEs in implementing the energy efficiency opportunities identified, NEA has been offering the Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG) since April last year. The EEG covers up to 70% of the cost for energy-efficient equipment and significantly reduces the payback period of the investment. One such example is United E & P Pte Ltd, a road construction company that successfully replaced their crusher and reaped energy savings of more than 180 megawatt-hours annually. By tapping on EEG, the payback period was reduced from three years to just one year.

15.    Another example is Progress Galvanizing who exemplifies multi-stakeholder partnerships through collaboration with academia, industry vendors, and government support. Through government grants, they upgraded compressors used in their hot-dip galvanising and sandblasting operations. With the help of their consultant, they installed an economiser to recover waste furnace heat. Combined, these projects helped save them more than 700 megawatt-hours of energy annually, equal to the electricity use of over 1,600 households. Progress Galvanizing also tapped on the expertise offered by EETC to identify more energy efficiency opportunities which they will be pursuing next.  For these efforts, Progress Galvanizing will be receiving this year’s Outstanding SME award.

Conclusion

16.    To celebrate these achievements, I am pleased to be presenting the EENP Awards to the EENP Awards recipients as a mark of their excellence. To the award winners, I trust that you will display the EENP Award proudly to serve as a testament to your leadership in sustainability and to inspire others to follow your example.

17.    The success stories shared today show how business leadership and partnerships drive energy efficiency and carbon abatement.

18.    Let us continue to push boundaries, share knowledge, and take action for a sustainable, net-zero future. I wish you all a fruitful conference. Thank you.