THE International Advisory Panel (IAP) on Clean Energy gave Singapore the thumbs-up for the country's blueprint on clean energy, after meeting for the last two days in Singapore.

Alf Bjorseth, one of the panellists and the chairman of Scatec - a Norwegian renewable energy development firm - made the observation that Singapore is a prime place for the use of electric vehicles and development of solar energy technology.

'The strategic move that Singapore has taken to start the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (Seris) is a very wise move,' Dr Bjorseth told BT yesterday.

Seris is expected to develop new technology in the solar energy field that will lower the cost of solar energy, bringing it closer to parity with conventional grid energy sources.

'In certain sunbelt areas in the United States, solar energy is already cheap enough to be in competition with grid electricity,' said Mr Bjorseth.

The panel also made several recommendations for areas that Singapore can focus on, including test-bedding electric vehicles, smart grids and green buildings and developing a framework for commercialising Singapore's expertise in sustainable development.

'These industries have a good fit with Singapore's strong interdisciplinary capabilities and will bring with them a substantial amount of economic and environmental benefits,' said Ron Oxburgh, co-chairman of the IAP.

The panel also singled out the Housing Development Board's $31 million solar test-bed programme to build solar energy capabilities through trials at 30 HDB precincts for praise, and recommended that projects conducted under similar 'living laboratory' conditions be increased.

'The panel's endorsement of Singapore's progress in clean energy is very encouraging. Their recommendations on new growth areas for Singapore will help us accelerate our efforts to be a leader in clean energy and sustainable development, and create new opportunities for companies based here, and for our workers,' said IAP co-chairman, Leo Yip.