About Mandatory Energy Management Practices for Existing Industrial Facilities
With effect from 22 April 2013, energy intensive companies in the industry sector are required under the Energy Conservation Act (ECA) to register with the National Environment Agency (NEA) within 6 months of qualifying as a registrable corporation and to implement mandatory energy management practices.
A corporation is a registrable corporation if it meets the following qualifications:
Once registered, corporations will be required to implement the following energy management practices:
- appoint an energy manager;
- monitor and report energy use and greenhouse gas emissions annually; and
- submit energy efficiency improvement plans annually.
With effect from 1 January 2020, a registered corporation under the ECA must, for each relevant business activity under its operational control, conduct an energy efficiency opportunities assessment for the relevant business activity, and submit an assessment report to NEA before the expiry of the respective assessment period. Registered corporation that established operational control of a relevant business activity on or before 2 June 2017 must submit its first assessment report by 31 Dec 2021 else the assessment report must be submitted within 6 years from the day the registered corporation established operational control of the relevant business activity.
Circulars and notices on requirements under ECA can be found here.
The regulations governing these requirements are:
Requirements for Mandatory Energy Management Practices
- Registration of Companies
A registrable corporation shall apply to be registered within 6 months after the date on which it qualifies as a registrable corporation. An application to be registered as a registered corporation shall be made using the relevant form provided in the electronic service provided at https://www.edma.gov.sg.
Find Out More
- Appointment of Energy Manager
A registered corporation shall appoint from among its employees not less than one energy manager and notify NEA of the appointment of its first energy manager not later than 30 days after registration.
- Periodic Reporting of Energy Use
A registered corporation shall submit an energy use report by 30 June of each year, which shall cover each business activity under the operational control of the registered corporation. The report shall be made using the relevant form provided in the electronic service provided at https://www.edma.gov.sg.
Find Out More
- Energy Efficiency Improvement Plan
A registered corporation shall be required to submit an energy efficiency improvement plan by 30 June of each year, covering each business activity under the operational control of the registered corporation. The plan shall cover a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 5 years, and made using the relevant form provided in the electronic service provided at https://www.edma.gov.sg.
Find Out More
A registered corporation shall, for each relevant business activity under its operational control, be required to implement an energy management system, and submit either (a) an energy management system report no earlier than 12 months and at least 6 months before the last day of the assessment cycle or (b) a valid and accredited ISO 50001 certification . Subsequent assessment cycle follows a three-year period, and the submission shall be made through the electronic service provided at https://www.edma.gov.sg.
Find Out More
- Energy Efficiency Opportunities Assessment
A registered corporation shall, for each relevant business activity under its operational control, be required to conduct an energy efficiency opportunities assessment, and submit an assessment report to NEA before the expiry of the respective assessment period. Each relevant business activity shall have an assessment period of not more than 6 years, and the assessment report shall be made using the relevant form provided in the electronic service at https://www.edma.gov.sg.
Find Out More
- Energy Performance Monitoring
A registered corporation shall, for each relevant business activity under its operational control in the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity involving the operation of at least one generating unit that has a designed power output of more than 10 megawatts, be required to implement Energy Performance Monitoring (EPM). The corporation shall submit a one-time model validation report and annual EPM report using the relevant form provided in the electronic service at https://www.edma.gov.sg.
Find Out More
- Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for Water-Cooled Chilled Water Systems
A registered corporation with water-cooled chilled water systems installed shall be required to submit a first report by 1 December 2025 to show that its operating chilled water system performance meets the MEES threshold and its M&V system is accurate. Other existing industrial facilities that are not regulated under the ECA will be required to conform to MEES and submit a first report by 1 December 2029.
After the approval of the first report, key performance data of the chilled water system will have to be reported on a periodic basis to demonstrate that the operating system performance is maintained.
Find Out More
Key Milestones to Note
| Register with NEA |
Within 6 months after the date on which the company qualifies as a registrable corporation
(e.g. A company that qualifies as a registrable corporation on 31 December 2013 is required to be registered by 30 June 2014.)
|
| Appoint Energy Manager (EM) who holds a Singapore Certified Energy Manager (Professional Level) certificate |
Within 30 days of being registered |
| Submit energy use report and energy efficiency improvement plan |
By 30 June annually |
| Implement energy management system (EnMS), and submit EnMS report or ISO 50001 certification | First EnMS Submission For existing relevant business activities
(before 1 January 2021) 31 December 2021 for Tier 1 facilities (annual energy consumption* ≥ 500 TJ); or 31 December 2022 for Tier 2 facilities (54TJ ≤ annual energy consumption* < 500TJ). * Based on 2 out of 3 preceding calendar year (i.e. 2018 – 2020) For new relevant business activities
(from 1 January 2021) Subsequent EnMS Submission
|
| Conduct energy efficiency opportunities assessment and submit the assessment report | By the end of the respective assessment period (not more than 6 years) for each relevant business activity under the operational control of the registered corporation. For the first EEOAs, - If your corporation is registered on or before 2 June 2017, conduct first EEOA by 31 December 2021
- If your corporation is registered after 2 June 2017, conduct first EEOA within 6 years beginning 1 January of the year of registration.
For subsequent EEOAs, - For relevant business activities that have attained the energy use threshold of ≥ 500TJ/yr in at least 2 out of the 3 preceding calendar years, conduct EEOAs every 6 years thereafter
- For relevant business activities that have attained the energy use threshold of 54TJ/yr – 500TJ/yr in at least 2 out of the 3 preceding calendar years, NEA will notify registered corporations on need for subsequent EEOAs. Corporations will be given 6 years from the date of the notice of assessment to submit the next EEOA report.
|
| Implement energy performance monitoring (EPM), and submit a model validation report and EPM report | Thermodynamic Model Development & Model Validation Report
For existing relevant business activity
(before 1 January 2024)
- Complete the development of a thermodynamic model by 31 December 2023, and
- Submit a model validation report by 30 June 2024
For new relevant business activities or new generating unit(s) added onto an existing relevant business activity
(in any year X, starting from 1 January 2024)
- Complete the development of a thermodynamic model by 31 December year X, and
- Submit a model validation report by 30 June of the year X+1
First EPM Report
For existing relevant business activity
(before 1 January 2024)
- Submit an EPM report by 30 June 2025
For new relevant business activities or new generating unit(s) added onto an existing relevant business activity
(in any year X, starting from 1 January 2024)
- Submit an EPM report by 30 June of the year X+2
Subsequent EPM Report
- EPM report shall be submitted by 30 June of each year, subsequently to the first EPM report submission
|
| Conform to MEES for Water-Cooled Chilled Water Systems and submit first report | By 1 December 2025 for industrial facilities regulated under the ECA
By 1 December 2029 for other industrial facilities For subsequent reports, NEA will review the annual average operating system performance and other key performance data of the chilled water system annually.
|