Solar vision: Why it's not all sunshine and roses for Singapore's solar energy plans

Dutchman Edgare Kerkwijk must be "walking on sunshine". His solar business, to use his own words, is going "gangbusters" and his phone has been blowing up. The Singapore resident's over two-decade-long wait for a big break in the city state's renewable energy space is paying off. "Every time one of the ministers says something about green energy, we get more phone calls. My phone goes off every hour," he gushes.

He heads Urban Renewables, a small firm he co-founded and launched six months ago that provides solar rooftops and energy storage services. The firm is giving away electric vehicles' charging units and solar roofs for free to entice building owners here to buy solar power from it. The strategy appears to be working. With a solar project pipeline of nearly 28 megawatts (MW) including the latest one snagged from Singapore-listed marine firm Amos Group, Mr Kerkwijk can't wait to pass the hat soon to raise fresh equity.

Indeed, the Lion City's solar sector, its most viable source of renewable energy, is abuzz with activity and promise despite two party poopers - limited land to harvest solar power and intermittent sunlight owing to high cloud cover and rain.