SINGAPORE: Singapore is seeing higher demand for solar panels, according to solar firms, as homeowners explore alternative energy options amid rising electricity costs triggered by the Middle East war.

Earlier this month, International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol told the French conservative Le Figaro newspaper that the global energy crisis would push countries towards renewable energy such as solar and wind, “within a few months,” as these are quicker to install.

According to Channel News Asia, local providers such as GetSolar and FOMO Energy reported a surge in solar panel installations and enquiries from landed homeowners, as well as condominium residents and commercial clients.

In fact, GetSolar’s installations jumped fourfold this month compared to previous months, while its enquiries in March alone doubled compared to February. FOMO Energy enquiries from residential homeowners also rose by over 60% since early March.

However, at a time when interest in solar panels has never been stronger, especially among condominium residents, adoption is still catching up.

Condos have limited and shared rooftop space, which restricts solar panel installation size. Solar projects may also be less financially attractive because condos usually run on a single main meter, so excess solar power cannot be easily exported to the national grid and must be used within the building.

On top of that, approval for installation takes time, as solar projects typically require consent from Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) councils and, in some cases, residents, unlike landed homes. Although other property types also come with limits.

Shophouses may face space or structural constraints due to the age of the building, while those in conservation areas must meet additional regulatory requirements.

Still, despite these constraints, industry players expect more property owners in Singapore to turn to solar power in the years ahead. /TISG

Read also: About 8 in 10 Singapore firms hold off workplace changes amid high energy prices

This article (Singapore starts seeing higher demand for solar panels, solar firms say) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

UNITED STATES: Meta will reportedly begin its planned first wave of layoffs on May 20, cutting 10%, or about 8,000, of its global workforce, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the plans.

The sources also said there are further layoffs in the second half of the year, although details such as timing and size have not been finalised. Plans may also change depending on developments in artificial intelligence capabilities, they added.

Amid reports of the upcoming layoffs, Business Insider reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter, that Meta “quietly” hired two founding members of artificial intelligence research and product company Thinking Machines Lab, Mark Jen and Yinghai Lu, along with AI researcher Tianyi Zhang, who all previously worked at Meta.

The three, who are recent departures from the US$12 billion AI startup founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, have not yet disclosed their move on LinkedIn.

Other companies that have had massive layoffs include Amazon, Block, and Oracle.

So far this year, 73,212 tech employees have lost their jobs, according to data from Layoffs.fyi. While many companies have been citing AI-driven efficiency as a reason for job cuts, analysts argued that companies have been “AI-washing” layoffs instead of citing other reasons for the cuts. /TISG

Read also: ‘So this is what AI will drive’: Workers react as PwC partner pay rises amid AI push and fewer staff

This article (Meta to begin first wave of layoffs on May 20, cutting about 8,000 jobs, with more layoffs expected later: Reports) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.