News Article
Solar Facility Wins Safety Award
CH2M HILL designed REC solar factory opens, wins safety award in Singapore
On November 3 REC officially opened one of the world's largest integrated wafer, cell and module manufacturing facilities in Tuas, Singapore. This is the largest single investment ever made by REC, the largest clean tech investment ever made in Singapore at 2.5 billion Singapore dollars.
The 321,000-square-meter facility was built 20 percent below budget. CH2M HILL, a global full service consulting, design, construction, and operations firm, was a key provider of engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for the project. CH2M HILL is regarded as a global leader in the design and construction of advanced facilities in solar manufacturing and many other manufacturing markets.
The project's safety record was recognized by the 2010 Sharp Award for Safety Performance presented by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower and Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee. Some 8,000 workers performed 17 million man hours without serious injury. This is the fifth consecutive year in which CH2M HILL Singapore projects have received awards marking strong safety performance on multiple projects.
The project has also been recognized for its impressive environmental features, having received the Gold Green Mark Award from the Singapore Building and Construction Authority for environmental performance, and ISO 9001 certification. Green Mark awards recognize the design and construction of sustainable buildings which promote energy savings, water savings, healthier indoor environments and adoption of greenery.
The 500 guests attending the opening included REC CEO Ole Enger, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board Leo Yip.
"The strong collaboration between the REC project team, our contractors, and suppliers made the project a success," said Mr. Enger. "REC Tuas is one of the world's largest integrated solar production facilities. The successful completion of the project on time, under budget, and with an excellent safety record is an accomplishment we can all be proud of."
"This project has been a positive experience for CH2M HILL for many reasons," said Randy Smith, President of CH2M HILL's Industrial & Advanced Technology business group. "It's an honor to work for an industry-leading company like REC. It's also gratifying to see a project of this scale and complexity come in below budget, all while winning awards for exceptional safety and sustainability."
The production costs for the facility are less than earlier REC plants, targeting a full cost of 97 Euro cents per watt by the end of 2011 including research and development and sales and marketing costs. The modules produced in 2011 at the new REC facility could throughout their lifetime offset 25 million tons of CO2 from coal fired power plants, or produce enough electricity to meet the yearly energy needs of 150,000 Singaporean households.
