Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Test-bedding and Demonstration Funding Initiative [Closed for Applications]

Overview
Eligibility Criteria
Evaluation Criteria
Level of Funding Support
Duration
Application Details
Awarded Projects
General Enquiries

 

The Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Test-bedding and Demonstration Funding Initiative (FI) aims to incentivise industry and IHLs to collaborate and translate their R&D outcomes into pilot scale or demonstration projects.  Applicants may select any suitable premises to test-bed or demonstrate their WTE technologies. NEA encourages applicants to tap on the plug-and-play features of the recently completed Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) WTE Research Facility (WTERF), which is co-developed and co-funded by NEA.

NEA invites applicants to submit proposals to test-bed or demonstrate technologies related to the thermal waste treatment processes that can potentially be deployed in or be used to complement large-scale WTE plants in Singapore to maximise WTE conversion efficiency and resource recovery rate. Applicants will need to articulate their deployment and commercialisation plans. This Request for Proposal (RFP) supports NEA’s WTE Programme goals of increasing the overall electrical efficiency of commercial-scale WTE plants to 27% or higher through novel and promising technologies, improving process efficiency; and/or reducing the energy consumed in plant processes.

Applicants are to source and secure the necessary premises/facilities to conduct the test-bedding or demonstration projects. Applicants who wish to use the WTERF located at 18 Tuas South Street 11, Singapore (636898) shall first consult NTU to assess the technical feasibility for using the plug-and-play features and interfacing works to execute the project, and to clarify with NTU on the usage charges, other costs and end-user requirements before submitting the proposal.

                                                                                                 
                                                                                    Figure 1: Plug-and-play features of the NTU WTERF

The WTERF has a municipal solid waste treatment capacity of 11.5 tonnes per day and employs a slagging gasification process using fixed-bed updraft gasifier. It receives domestic and mixed waste as feedstock and has the potential to treat other kinds of feedstock such as incineration bottom ash. The schematic diagram of the Facility in Figure 1 shows the plug-and-play features and the possible areas for test-bedding. Please refer to NTU’s “WTERF Catalogue” for details. 

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Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), public sector agencies and not-for-profit research entities may qualify for funding support of up to 100% of the approved qualifying direct costs (QDC), plus 20% of QDC for overheads; and Singapore-registered companies and for-profit research entities may qualify for funding support of up to 70% of QDC only, without provision for funding overheads. 

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The projects are evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the following evaluation criteria:

S/N	Evaluation Criterion	Weightage (%)
1	Contribution to the WTE Programme goals	30
2	Commercialisation or deployment plans after the test-bedding or demonstration	25
3	Technical expertise of project team	25
4	Cost effectiveness and reasonableness of budget and project duration	20
	Total Score	100

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The approved funding support will be considered on a case-by-case basis and funding will be made as reimbursements. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek industry collaborators and work with them to scope out their proposals to ensure the projects are of interest and relevance to the industry. Proposals that have secured industry spending and participation, especially those with proofs of collaboration agreements, will be viewed more favourably, all other things being equal. The following are examples of items that can be considered for funding support.

a.       Design works and customisation

b.       Fabrication of equipment and materials

c.       Installation and commissioning

d.       Data acquisition and analytical instrumentation

e.       Removal and reinstatement works

For Applicants who wish to use the WTERF, please note that this FI is unable to fund the usage or rental fees charged by NTU for using the WTERF. 

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Applicants should endeavour to complete their projects within two years. Shorter timelines are preferred. The reasonableness of the duration of the projects proposed will be taken into consideration during the evaluation stage on a case-by-case basis.

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1. Please contact WTETD_Grant_Secretariat@nea.gov.sg if you require further information.
 
2. Please contact Helpdesk@researchgrant.gov.sg if you require assistance with IGMS. Alternatively, refer to the training manual through https://researchgrant.gov.sg/Pages/TrainingGuides.aspx
 
3. Please refer to this webpage “Whistleblowing for RIE Funding Initiatives” to report any incidents of potential abuse of grant, fraud or misconduct arising from NEA administered Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) Funding Initiatives, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

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