Originally posted by t_a_s:

high cost of living make ppl cant tahan, more suiside will come, but today newspaper no publish, how come

No publish so that less people know about it and copy it (less copy cat).

Originally posted by maurizio13:

Shouldn't you know better?

What's the point of me explaining to you?

When I know very well that you will not accept my explanation.

 

You being such an authority in correlations and statistics.

And you need me to explain S.D., variances and covariances to you?

 

If you have impromtu knowledge, go google it.

 

Is it?

Ever heard the adage, "great minds think alike".

 

I just cannot stop myself, when I see the quote "great minds think alike", to say "and fools seldom differ".

Originally posted by eagle:

I apologize if I caused some misunderstanding earlier. I mean the solar cells might one day be cheaper than electricity from oil. Disregard the mass production part.

Well, the government is subsidizing the research to bring down the costs of production. I would say that it is better in the long run than blindly subsidizing a technology that is still rather high costs as of now. And solar trees are things envisioned by a certain govt agency (I forgot name at the moment), the one which is subsidizing the research.

Instead of finding more ways to generate energy, another way would be to ensure less energy being consumed. The things Singapore are doing can be considered rather interesting, but whether other countries are doing better in this area, I have not yet researched enough to comment. I'm currently doing a report on sustainable development (which includes energy). Perhaps I can post it when my team finishes it?

With today technology, the production of solar panel uses electricity generated from fuel oil.  Thus the cost of producing the solar panel goes up when oil price rises.  Thus it is difficult to drastically bring down the cost of producing solar panel.  We need to find new way, new material, cheaper way to convert solar energy to electricity.

Will like to see your report on the Sustainable Development (including energy) in due course.

I believe your report will cover something global.

In Singapore, due to the physical environment, limited land and sea mass, many forms of renewable energy cannot be implemented effectively or meaningfully eg wind energy, wave energy, tidal energy, etc.  This is one of the reason why government is concentrating on research into solar energy, which is in abundant although we may not be able to effectively implement it in large scale due to limited land mass.  Give a guess when Singapore can install a “true 1MW solar power plant!”.

Originally posted by eagle:

erm... Singapore has a scheme in generation of power from solar sources. The government is sponsoring elec engineering phd students in their studies (with 2-3plus k allowance a month) for power generation, especially in the field of solar power.

If solar cells go into mass production, they might one day be cheaper than electricity generated by oil now. There are talks of having solar trees, etc etc...

Even for civil engineering, in some bridges, there are electrostatic generators for generating power from vibrations coming from trucks and vehicles moving over the bridge, or maybe vibrations due to wind, etc...

The government here is sponsoring PhD students in their studies in the development of fabrication of solar panel, DC energy conversion to AC power suitable for household use, etc.  All this is with the aim of finding ways in doing thing more cheaply to bring the total cost down to that acceptable to the market place.

The government here is not going to subsidise the installation of solar panel for power generation.  So do not expect to see many solar panels installation in Singapore in the near future.

Solar cells and solar panels are in mass production in many countries eg South Korea, and with many solar panel installations.  This is because the government there subsidise the installation and operation costs.

Originally posted by tripwire:

oil prices is gonna keep going higher and higher....

 

nuclear energy on the cards?

Nuclear energy is being used on US aircraft carriers / submarines.  This does not mean that it is cheaper than fossil fueled generator, after taking into consideration of the initial cost of construction, even at today oil price.

Similarly solar powered electricity is 3 times more expansive than that of electricity from existing power plant after taking into consideration of the cost of installation and life span of solar panels.

So no nuclear energy nor solar panel for the time being, as there is no subsidy in their installation by the government.

The Straits Times – 13 MAR 08

Forum Page  -  "Subsidies not prudent for renewable energy"

In answering to a letter “Vital to pursue renewable energy policy” (7 Mar 08) by Mr Tan Tze Kiang who says that the Government should subsidies alternative energy, in particular solar power, Ms Lim Bee Khim, Director, Corporate Communications, Ministry of Trade and Industry said: 

“Mr Tan claims solar power is “almost free”, and yet he also says there are “relatively heavy start-up costs” which should be subsidised.  The fact is that solar power costs two to three times as much as electricity generated through conventional means.”

“This is precisely due to the high upfront cost of installating solar panels, which has to be included in the cost of solar power generated over the useful life of these panels.

“A subsidy will distort the energy market by artificially lowering the cost of solar energy and encouraging its consumption relative to other forms of unsubsidised energy.”

Originally posted by eagle:

y = mx+c does not really prove correlation; it just shows a regressive relationship. It can just mean that x is an independent variable, while y is a related variable.

I think we can be enlightened by looking a little bit more into the link introduced by TCH05.

http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentTOC____23939.aspx

"A Formula for LNG Pricing" by Gary Eng, Independent Consultant,

A report that explores the relationship between liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices and oil prices in the Pacific Basin, and suggests a formula relating the price of imported LNG in NZ to the price of oil.

Originally posted by maurizio13:

 

Our electricity rate is grossly overpriced when compared to a comparable country like Australia (in terms of GDP per capita).

Electricity rate is charged in Australia (ActewAGL) at 12.10 cents (Australian Dollars), when converted gives a Singapore Dollar rate of 15.13 cents.

(AUD 1 = SGD 1.25)

 

Singapore Power charges electricity rates 23.88 cents.

The difference between Singaporean electricity and Australian is 8.75 cents, a pecentage difference of 58% when compared to Australian electricity.

 

Well I guess so long as Singaporeans are lapping it up, then it's not a big issue. 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.actewagl.com.au/prices/home/ACT/elec.aspx

 

I think to a certain extend you are right that electricity rate in Singapore is more expensive than Australia, when you are talking about low tension rate.  This is the rate all house holds are paying to SP Services.  This is one of the main reasons that Singapore Power is making billion net profit.

The picture is different when you look at high tension electricity rate.  Depend how efficient you are in "managing the electricty usage and with your supplier contract", the price can be comparable to that of Australia.

Originally posted by TCH05:

I am glad that you learn something new because there are some forumers here who think that they have learn it all in schools and thats why they can only talk about equation instead of common sense.

 

With regards to A and B, I believe they consist of pretty complex formulation basically to protect the interest of the seller. And I also believe that A and B do consist of certain political factor (which affect ths supply). Just take Dubai for example, the cost of their LNG is about 50% more expensive than if they were to import them from neighbouring Iran.

 

I think Singpoare power plants or Singapore are over dependent on Indonesia LNG and recently there have been some talk about importing LNG from Woodside in Australia and also set up a LNG storage facility in Jurong Island so that they can import from far away place like Qatar via LNG vessel.

After givning the whole thing more thoughts, I now understand what you are trying to say.

I think Factor A and B depends a lot including when is the time you enter the agreement, what is the base price of oil at the point the agreement is being inked, whether the oil price is on the up trend or down trend, the bargaining power, the relationship, political and etc.  Thank you. 

What to do.  Different age group use different tools that they know best.

Originally posted by TCH05:

 

Eagles, please dont simply distort my post here and twist what I posted here.

 

PLNG = A+B×PCrudeOil is the pricing formular use by Asian LNG market, not some academic equations you learn in school.

 

Please think deeper before making comments.  

 

I learn something today that price of LNG ie

PLNG = A+B×PCrudeOil

is the pricing formular use by Asian LNG market.  Thank you.

This clearly shows that once factors A and B are fixed, the price of Crude Oil (PCrudeOil) will affect the PLNG directly.  PCrudeOil goes up PLNG will go up by a factor of B (provided B is positive, to which common sense say it is).

This explain that although power plants can be using LNG as fuel but the electricity production cost is always linked to the price of crude oil.

If possible, can you give some idea of the range of factor A and B.  Thank you again.

The Straits Times – 20 Mar 08

A man who used a mirror to look up a 40-year-old woman’s skirt at a Cold Storage Supermarket in Marine Parade Road last December was fined S$2,000 yesterday for insulting her modesty.

Logistics supervisor Ngui June Sien, 40, could have been jailed for up to one year and fined.

Originally posted by Hello Kitty:

no wonder...

In Pakistan.  Have to go to work now.

Originally posted by Hello Kitty:

u wake up liao buay.

Just got out of bed

The frightening result of the last general election (9 Mar 08) in Malaysia will cause some soul searching in the Pay and Pay Master.

The Pay and Pay Master cannot run the risk of becoming alienated and distant to the people.

The people's concerns must be in the uppermost mind of the Master.

What are our concerns?  Please feel free to add-on the list:

1.      The rising cost of living

2.      Helping the real poor

3.      Use the millions given to the MIW in better ways

4.      Reduce the GST from 7% down

5.      ..

6.      ..

7.      ..

8.      ..

Originally posted by RaTtY8l:

but i remember they got a banner tat says public are welcome into the RP canteen??? isint tat contradicting?

Only if the defending lawyer know this and then use this argument to fight the case.

Originally posted by veron soh:

+ at least 12 strokes of the 'rotan'.!

Hah, including rotan ah.

Originally posted by Seven_Dragon:

i think he should suck the citizens' cock (like ah jiao or cecelia did to edison)

we then feel shiok 

This type of comment is uncalled for.  This show how shallow we are.

Originally posted by gunner77:

i realise all filming is only a few weeks in jail.

quite a good deal

Do not recommend that you go and try to do the same or put yourself in the same situation.

Originally posted by HyperFocal:

... they'll NEVER catch him now...

... when is WKS going to admit he CANNOT find him...?

... if MSK has succeeded in leaving SG, WKS is wasting resources & money sustaining this intense search...

 

... just come on TV again, and say; ".... well, despite all our efforts, MSK still could not be found... this shouldn't be so, but I'm SORRY it is so...lets move on..."

MM Lee, back from Middle East, already laid the ground and said that Mas Selamat Kastari after all is not a high threat to Singapore even if he is not found.

Originally posted by EarlNeo:

mayb he want to see, but never got to see anything leh... the ger look up b4 she change? 4 week for not seeing anything wow.... still cheap?

It is a very step penalty, 4 weeks for not seeing anything.  That is why he was charged for trespassing, a lesser charge, I think.

Originally posted by Poh Ah Pak:

Everytime Lee Kuan Yew opens his mouth, my ear suffers.

Can't he just shut up?

Why do you want him to shut up while you can get entertained with what he has to say.

Originally posted by sir_peanuts:

is daddy implying something?

I do not think so.  It is people like us who try to meddle things up.

Originally posted by TCH05:

I think a better way of putting the message across to the Arabs will be to use a football team as an example.

 

If you want to win a football match, you need to have the full 11 players. You need strikers, midfielders, defenders, a strong captain and the goalkeeper.

 

Once you have that first 11 going, even without a manager, the team will still be able to play good football.

 

:D

MM Lee will put it this way, even with a “dummy manager”, the team will still be able to play good football.

Do not expect any incentive from the Government, if you intend to install solar panel (PV) on top of your house.

Whereas in Korea, the “feed-in-tariff” government policy is driving a rapid growth of PV power plants.  Feed-in-tariff for PV - The government compensates the difference between power generation cost and sale price.