Close Encounters of a Clean Energy Kind

Not being big on the practice of Tweeting (or
Twittering, as I once described it), my preference is to bring together in one
place at one time (fortnightly, by design) a newsletter full of news,
information and current comment on all things climate change, carbon, green, eco,
energetic  and clean.

In doing this, I draw heavily on articles and
commentary from sources far and wide, local and global, but by necessity, I also
tap into events and meetings, whether attended in person or remotely. In this
issue, I’m compelled to provide more of a personal account of meetings – with
people and at events – as the diary seems to have been full of such delightful
and inspiring close encounters of a clean energy kind.

See who’s in and who’s not. Read on

So forgive me if this appears as a personal
meandering through a resourceful minefield, but hopefully you end up with an
impression that there are a lot of people doing a lot of very positive and
purposeful things to clean up the community, the city and the country,
where-ever they may be. We’ll do this in the ABC Carbon tradition –
alphabetically!

Amida Recruitment

The Singapore office of this global
recruitment company specialising in sustainable development jobs is well and
truly open. The launch party at Harry’s Bay, Boat Quay was a great occasion to
hear about its work, meet and listen to Aaron George and Greg Books, the
co-founders of Amida in London, as well as Director Asia Pacific Andy Clapham,
Martin Blake and Simon Thomas, who gave great insight into the sustainability
work he’s done to make the new United World College one of the greenest and
most sustainable educational institutions in the world. More to go: www.amida-recruit.com

Angel’s Gate

They called it a “reality tv show”, but the
one thing very real about it was the ordeal it put contending start-ups through in
their quest for funding to get their inventions and businesses off the ground. It
was a welcome introduction to the venture capital/investment world for a number
of enthusiastic early entrepreneurs, including Mike Carmichael with his Kabook-i
bamboo construction method. Watch this space – and other media – for news of
success for Singapore’s growing collection of innovators. And when the show airs with the  very professional presenter Philippa Lett. Learn more : www.angelsgate.com

Blake, Martin

The inimitable and seemingly omnipresent Dr
Blake was everywhere but loose these last few weeks. Popping up at event after
event in Singapore, speaking and advising, as he does best. He works with The
Green Asia Group, but also wears some vital advisory hats for Amida and Carbon
Systems, among others. We expect to see much more of Martin in and around
Singapore, even though he’s popped down to Australia for a time to give them
the benefit of his advice and experience. More:  www.thegreenasiagroup.com

Canada Comes Clean

Having a strong presence at the Clean
Energy Expo, Canada seems determined to be noticed. It also organised an Energy and
Sustainability Seminar, in conjunction with the Energy Studies Institute, as
well as an excellent event at the High Commission called “Building Value in a
Low Carbon & Water Constrained Future”. If that’s a mouthful, what was
presented was a host of innovative businesses doing great things in Asia
Pacific. It was brought together by the Climate Change Infrastructure
Corporation and Tangerine Tango. Very colourful and very energetic. And clean,
of course. All in the capable hands of Paula Murphy Ives, Canada’s trade
commissioner for cleantech, green building, energy and CSR. For more: www.singapore.gc.ca & www.climatechangeinfrastructure.com

Elkington, John

What a pleasure to listen to John Elkington
on a recent visit to Singapore. He is so wise and predictive of a future, which
we might not enjoy very much at all unless we all take action to deal with burning
fossil fuels, and move to a low or zero carbon existence.  This is the man who came up with the “Triple bottom
line” as a means to measure and manage business more successfully and sustainably.
It was a launch of sorts for a 50 page book called The Future Quotient – a very
useful collection of case studies – produced by Volans and JWT. Thanks to the
NUS Business School and Bob Fleming for making it possible. For more from John,
go to: www.volans.com

Energy Week

The focus of much of the recent attention,
not only by clean and green locals, but visitors from afar, was Singapore
International Energy Week (31 October to 4 November).  The only thing wrong with the week was that
there was far too much to see and do, and far too many people of note to listen
to, and catch up with. But we tried to fit it all in…along with a few other
related or connected occurrences.  Congratulations
to the organisers of the week – the Energy Market Authority – as well as
Koelnmesse, who managed the two big events, Clean Energy Expo Asia (CEEA) and
Carbon Forum Asia (CFA). For more go to: www.siew.sg
and www.koelnmesse.com.sg

Energy Opportunities

It was great to participate and “work” with
all other voluntary contributors featured in the CNBC Brainstorm on Energy
Opportunities, support by Shell and Harvard Business Review, and ably organised
by Shaunagh Connaire and presented by Geoff Cutmore.  It was a novel and productive way to get
involved individuals – including Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and
Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – to share their thoughts and ideas for
a clean energy future. Highlights of the brainstorm will feature on CNBC
internationally – at times and dates to be announced – and online at www.energyopportunities.tv

ev HUB

You don’t know what David Chou will come up
with next. On show at the Clean Energy Expo was all his electric dreams which he
has so far realised. A 10-year-old Renault Kangoo van which has zipped around
the hilly terrain of Sentosa Island on only 10 cents a kilometre. evHUB
converted the diesel-powered van to an electric plug-in in 2009 and lent the
van to the Sentosa Development Corporation. It was on show along with the Yike
Bike – and its New Zealand creator Grant Ryan – and there were boats, yes
boats. The latest electric venture is electric motor powered rescue craft.
Always more at: www.evhub.co

Green Drinks

A panel discussion on the National Climate
Change Strategy 2012 was held in consultation with the National Climate Change
Secretariat. The Permanent Secretary, Tan Yong Soon kindly kicked off the
consultation. Panel members included Jessica Cheam (The Straits Times), Vaidehi
Shah (Singapore Environment Council), Howard Shaw (Halcyon Group), David Chou
(evHUB), Abigail Alling (Biosphere Foundation), Michael Quah (NUS), P K Wong
(A*STAR), Sanjay Kuttan (DNV Clean Technologies), Allan Lim (Alpha Biofuels)
and Eugene Tay (Low Carbon Singapore / Green Future Solutions).  More on: www.sggreendrinks.wordpress.com

Green Prints

Meeting up with Mark Cheng of Green Prints,
was an eye-opener. What he is able to do with the greenest of all paper – from
sugar cane waste in India – is illuminating to say the least. Not just your run
of the mill paper for printing and copying, but a full suite of papers for
quality printing in all shapes and sizes. Check it out at:  www.greenprints.sg

Stormy Affair

Running into Kannan Chandran at Suntec City
was opportune. He’s editor and publisher of Storm magazine and invited me to:
1. Write on sustainability for a future issue, and 2. Attend a stormy affair at
Capella on Sentosa, which included a leadership forum on Character,
Communication, Community, Consumerism, Culture,
involving Prof Arnoud De Meyer President of SMU, jazz musician Jeremy
Montiero, Michelle Ng, Lim Soon-Hock and Shanker Iyer, Chairman, SICC. It was
ably moderated by Prof Kirpal Singh, a creative genius. It was an ideal
opportunity to connect with some old friends too. Check Storm out: www.storm.sg

The Green Asia Group

Good to meet Victoria Burrows, who has joined
The Green Asia Group. Previously a Senior Design and Sustainability Consultant
for Inbuilt Design in UK, a world class company in this arena, she is making
her present felt in the region. So expect to see and hear more of Victoria and
TGAG team in Singapore and South East Asia. More here: www.thegreenasiagroup.com

Third Wave Power

A key focus at for me and media at CEEA was
the arrival on the scene of the quite unique solar charger mPowerPad. Co-
Founders VS Hariharan and Lim Chuin Kiat (with supporting team) have done a great
job getting this device ready in a matter of months. Admittedly, I had a minor role
in launching this – and spoke at the associated Tech Talk on the global solar
scene – but it was great to see and hear the extent of media interest in this.
See the separate article on this and here for more: www.thirdwavepower.com

I’m sure I’ve missed something and someone of
importance. But there’s room for more. In fact, there’ll be more to come about
these people and these organisations, along with others, who are making an impact
at home and abroad.

Warm wishes for a cool change!

Ken Hickson