The Norwegian Hydrogen Forum (NHF) and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association of Singapore (HFCAS) have agreed to strengthen collaboration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a Singaporean delegation visit to Norway.

The MoU shall be a tool for exchange on policies and regulatory frameworks necessary to support the interest and use of H₂. It shall further stimulate bilateral collaboration in industry and research, as well as encourage and support a closer H₂ partnership between the two countries.

Norway and Singapore have established ambitious climate and energy policies to uphold their commitments in the Paris Agreement and seek to become a low-emission society and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, respectively. H₂ will play a crucial role in this energy transition, both as an energy carrier, fuel for zero-emission transport and as replacement of fossil sources for industrial purposes. 

Singapore has the world’s busiest container transshipment port and is a leading hub for aviation. The island country is central in the development of a global infrastructure for H₂ and H₂-derived fuels such as ammonia. Norway has almost 100 years of experience with industrial H₂ production and a complete maritime value chain with global footprint. Both countries have invested heavily in H₂ research, technology and innovation.

“The Singaporean H₂ strategy aims not only to establish a domestic H₂ value chain, but also to drive global development by encouraging innovation, technology partnerships, standardization and certification methodologies. As an important enabler for this strategy, HFCAS is a perfect partner for NHF. This agreement will give our two associations a framework for exchange on important topics such as policy initiatives and market drivers and barriers, but we also hope that it will foster concrete collaboration between stakeholders from politics, industry and research and drive the hydrogen momentum further,” said Ingebjørg Telnes Wilhelmsen, Secretary General of the Norwegian Hydrogen Forum.

“With our National H₂ Strategy charting the path for Singapore in supporting its decarbonization plans, this MoU with Norwegian Hydrogen Forum would open the doorways for both countries to promote greater collaboration and partnerships. Norway, having started their H₂ journey earlier, has all the knowledge and experience that Singapore companies would be able to tap on ranging from technology development, safety standards and competency development. Furthermore, Singapore has emphasized the need for research and development into the H₂ space and this MoU would encourage greater collaboration between the research institutions to develop solutions,” said Noel Chin, President of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association of Singapore.

The MoU was facilitated by Innovation Norway, the Norwegian Government’s agency for innovation and development of Norwegian enterprises and industry home and abroad.