The Republic has appointed a consortium, led by global asset manager Keppel, for the next phase of a project exploring the use of ammonia for clean power generation and bunkering on Jurong Island.

Keppel and its partners will conduct a front-end engineering design (FEED) study to advance a proposal using ammonia to generate power, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Friday (3 Oct).

The partners are Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, and liquid storage logistics player Advario. Sumitomo will separately conduct a FEED study for ammonia bunkering.

The project aims to develop an end-to-end solution that generates 55 to 65 megawatts of electricity from imported low or zero-carbon ammonia, via direct combustion in a gas turbine plant.

It also aims to facilitate ammonia bunkering at a capacity of at least 100,000 tonnes per annum. These aims are subject to the findings of the FEED studies, EMA and MPA noted. The project has yet to reach a final investment decision to formally proceed.

“Given the early development and evolving applications of ammonia for power generation and bunkering, the government will work closely with Keppel to ensure that the potential project is designed for safe and effective operation,” the government agencies said in a press release.

Keppel and its partners were selected from six consortia shortlisted in 2023 to participate in a request for proposal process, following an expression of interest called in 2022.

The project is part of Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy, launched in 2022, which outlines the city-state’s approach to tapping low-carbon hydrogen.

“Ammonia, which does not produce carbon emissions when combusted, is a ready and available hydrogen carrier with an established international supply chain for industrial use, and can be stored and transported over long distances,” EMA and MPA noted.

If implemented, the project will set “a new benchmark for clean-fuel solutions and global decarbonisation”, said Cindy Lim, chief executive of Keppel’s infrastructure division.
 

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