Keppel DHCS concludes topping out operation in Tianjin Eco-City

The group expects plant to start supply of chilled water and hot water service by 2012.

Singapore's Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Mr Lee Yi Shyan Friday graced the topping out ceremony of Tianjin Eco-City Keppel New Energy Development Co., Ltd.'s (TEC-Keppel) district heating and cooling system (DHCS) plant in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (Tianjin Eco-City).

The plant is located in the Eco-Business Park (EBP) of Tianjin Eco-City. Testing and commissioning will start in early November this year.

By 2012, the plant will be ready to commence supply of chilled water and hot water service to Landmark Building One and Ready-Built Offices One in the EBP which are developed by Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co.,Ltd. (SSTEC).

The topping out ceremony was also attended by distinguished guests from Tianjin which included Mr Lin Xuefeng and Mr Meng Xianzhang, Vice Chairmen of Tianjin Eco-City Administrative Committee. Also present were Mr Tay Kim Poh, Deputy Secretary (Development) for the Ministry of National Development, Mr Goh Toh Sim, Chief Representative (China) of Keppel Corporation and Chairman of TEC-Keppel, as well as Mr Ho Tong Yen, Chief Executive Officer of SSTEC.

Mr Joseph Ng, Chief Executive Officer of Keppel DHCS Pte. Ltd. (Keppel DHCS), said, "The topping out ceremony of the DHCS plant bears much significance for Keppel DHCS as it means that we are a step closer to the completion of the plant, our first inroad overseas, according to a Keppel report.

"Aligned with the environmental targets of Tianjin Eco-City, DHCS is a greener and more cost-effective choice for heating and cooling. We look forward to replicate this environmentally-friendly solution in other parts of China."

TEC-Keppel is a joint venture by Keppel DHCS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Integrated Engineering Limited, and Tianjin Eco-City Energy Investment and Construction Co., Ltd. One of the earliest investments by a Singapore technology company in Tianjin Eco-City, TEC-Keppel focuses on the investment, development, design, construction, operation, maintenance and consultancy for DHCS, Tri-generation and other utility services in Tianjin Eco-City.

DHCS is an installation of a centrally chilled water and hot water processing plant to serve a cluster of buildings for their heating and air-conditioning needs. The plant distributes chilled water and hot water to its customers' buildings through a network of pipes. As most of the equipment is located at the centralised plant, customers can free-up spaces that would otherwise be used for the conventional air-conditioning systems. DHCS is an energy-efficient system and therefore will contribute to the Eco-City in meeting its key performance indicators.