SOUTHEAST ASIA CONSTRUCTION28 Oct 2021
Perennial Business City to become ‘first sustainable super-low-energy business park’ in Singapore’s Jurong Lake District

Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd is working together with Perennial Holdings Private Limited to roll out the Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) concept at Perennial Business City, an upcoming business park located in the Jurong Lake District, a precinct positioned as the second central business district of Singapore.

The sustainable EaaS concept by Keppel Infrastructure – deemed the first-of-its-kind in the country – includes the installation and operation of super-efficient chiller systems and photovoltaic solar panels, offering zero carbon electricity long-term, as well as the setting up of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, among others.

With sustainable EaaS, Perennial Business City is set to become the first sustainable super-low-energy building that operates with renewable energy in the Jurong Lake District. Measuring over 1 mil sq ft in total net lettable area, the development – which is majority-owned and managed by Perennial – is expected to reduce its total building energy consumption by more than 40% when it commences operations progressively from 2022.

“By harnessing Keppel Infrastructure’s suite of renewable energy, power, cooling and EV charging expertise, we are able to develop a unique energy delivery model that combines hardware, software and services aimed at maximising energy savings and users’ experience,” explained Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel Infrastructure. “With the confluence of climate action, digitalisation, and work-live-play as a new normal, we are well-placed to roll out more EaaS offerings in Singapore and the region.”

She added that the EaaS concept is “an appealing value proposition as customers, such as building or asset owners, do not need to make upfront capital investment, and instead enter into a recurring subscription and service contract for energy usage and management.”

Pua Seck Guan, CEO of Perennial said, “Perennial Business City marks not only our first foray into the business park space but also the setting of a new benchmark as the first sustainable super-low-energy business park in the Jurong Lake District.

“With our investment of over S$100 million to redevelop the property into ‘A Visionary City Within a City’, coupled with its strategic location and extensive transportation connectivity, Perennial Business City will be the business park of choice for sustainability-minded tenants seeking scalability to support their future growth.”

In their joint statement, both partners said to accelerate the adoption of green transport, Keppel Infrastructure will assist to install 20 smart EV charging stations at Perennial Business City. The company will also design and provide a super-efficient chiller system that will substantially improve Perennial Business City’s energy efficiency and put it on track to achieve the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Super Low Energy certification. This will translate to significant energy savings as cooling typically constitutes the biggest electrical load of a building, making up to 50% of energy usage.

In addition, Keppel Infrastructure will supply solar-generated electricity to Perennial Business City to maximise the usage of scarce renewable resources in Singapore, and reduce the business park’s net carbon footprint. According to the statement, more than 1,800 solar panels will be installed on the roof of Perennial Business City, generating around 1,200 MWh per year. The solar panels will also reduce about 500 t of annual carbon emissions. This is in line with Keppel’s Vision 2030, which places sustainability firmly at the core of its strategy, and reinforces Perennial’s commitment to embed sustainability into its business operations.

Designed to cater to tenants from high-value industries, including infocommunications technology, biomedical sciences, fast-moving consumer goods and financial institutions, Perennial Business City provides easy access to key transport nodes such as Jurong East Mass Rapid Transit Interchange Station, which serves the North-South and East-West Lines as well as the upcoming Jurong Region Line, and the future Jurong East Integrated Transport Hub. It is directly linked to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital via an elevated pedestrian walkway.

Image: Perennial Holdings Private Limited