PRIVATE property developers looking to build green buildings, can now tap into a S$20 million scheme to encourage the use of solar technologies in new building projects.

The Solar Capability Scheme (SCS) was launched by the Economic Development Board (EDB) on Tuesday. The SCS is the latest programme by the Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO).

The scheme applies new building developments in the private sector which meet a minimum Green Mark Gold standard, a benchmarking system administered by the Building & Construction Authority (BCA).

Applications for existing buildings undergoing extensive retrofit will be considered on a case by case basis.

Mr Ko Kheng Hwa, Managing Director of the EDB and Executive Director of CEPO said: 'We believe that this scheme will go a long way in building up critical capabilities among various players in the solar energy ecosystem including system integrators, architects, engineers and developers.

'The implementation of capabilities nurtured under the scheme will be exportable as there is growing demand internationally in eco-friendly developments. These capabilities will also support wider adoption of solar energy in Singapore as its cost continues to fall.'

Under the SCS, the amount of financial support for each qualifying project will be assessed on factors such as innovation, design, effectiveness and skills development in the proposed solutions.

Financial support will range between 30 to 40 per cent of the capital cost of the solar solution and capped at S$1 million per project.