(EnergyAsia, April 25 2012, Wednesday) — Sembcorp Industries yesterday officially started up a S$34 million woodchip-fuelled biomass steam production plant on Singapore’s Jurong Island as part of its offering to supply sustainable and competitive energy to customers. (US$1=S$1.25).

Sembcorp said its first waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Singapore produces 20 tonnes per hour of steam using waste wood collected and processed by its solid waste collection business.

The company said it will develop a second woodchip boiler to produce another 40 tonnes per hour of steam by 2013. Combined, the two boilers will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 70,000 tonnes a year.

Sembcorp said it will also be building two new WTE boilers on Jurong Island to produce a total of 140 tonnes of steam an hour using industrial and commercial waste supplied by the company’s waste collection business.

By 2014, the company would have increased its WTE capacity by ten-fold and would be supplying one-third of the steam for its customers on the island’s Sakra sector using alternative fuel.

With its integrated group expertise, Sembcorp said it has the capability to manage the entire WTE value chain.

Sembcorp’s solid waste management arm collects and recovers recyclables, timber, hardcore and fines from industrial and commercial waste as well as construction and demolition waste.

By recovering waste wood meant for incineration and processing it into woodchip fuel, Sembcorp creates value from waste and improves the competitiveness of industry on Jurong Island while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Ng Meng Poh, Sembcorp’s Executive Vice President, Singapore and ASEAN (Utilities), said:

“Our woodchip boiler plant is significant for Sembcorp in our journey as a vital partner to the industry on Jurong Island. It is also a step forward in our strategy to grow our portfolio of renewable energy assets, and in particular, to offer sustainable and competitive energy-from-waste solutions to our customers in Sakra.

“This solution provides an alternative economical source of energy for our customers on Jurong Island while leveraging synergies between our solid waste management and energy businesses.”