Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), PSA Singapore (PSA) and Japan’s Chiyoda Corporation (Chiyoda) have begun testing how H₂ can be transported and stored as methylcyclohexane (MCH), a liquid form at ambient temperature and pressure, before gaseous H₂ is extracted from MCH to be used as a clean fuel for horizontal transportation in the port.

As part of this collaboration and trial, PSA has built and operationalized the first H₂ refueling station and provided a H₂ fuel cell electric prime mover at Pasir Panjang Terminal in Singapore. The testbed follows successful laboratory proof-of-concept (PoC) experiments led by NTU to enable the efficient and economical transport of H₂, which can in turn contribute to the expansion of global H₂ supply chains.

H₂ fuel cells, a promising technology for green energy, produce electricity by a reaction of H₂ and oxygen that leaves behind only water and heat as byproducts. As Singapore has no natural resources, it is reliant on importing H₂ that can be transported in liquid form through liquid organic H₂ carriers (LOHC), which can be used for long-term storage and long-distance transportation of H₂ under ambient condition.

The trial at PSA’s Pasir Panjang Terminal is scheduled to run until mid-2025. It aims to validate how transported LOHC can be stored at an industrial setting, and subsequently dehydrogenated. The extracted H₂ can be used as a fuel for refueling stations onsite. In this PoC project, PSA provided a H₂ refueling station and a prime mover and shares the demonstration site and utilities with industry partners. PSA is responsible for the construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the H₂ refueling facility.

This pioneering endeavor places H₂ at the forefront as a potential sustainable green energy source and plays a pivotal role in expanding the use of H₂ fuel within PSA and in Singapore. This collective effort demonstrates that H₂ remains a viable decarbonization pathway through demand aggregation and innovation.

Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU Vice President (Industry) said, “NTU researchers have been working closely with partners to develop better catalysts and efficient reactors for extracting H₂, and the promising success of laboratory trials have led to real-world tests. Liquid organic H₂ carrier technology is a promising solution to safely transport H₂, enabling green and sustainable technologies. The pilot-scale trials at Pasir Panjang Terminal with our key partners are a vital next step in this industry collaboration, in which we envision a future with alternative sources of energy that are reliable and economical. NTU supports Singapore’s vision of becoming a sustainable nation, and is committed to environmental sustainability through impactful, real-world innovations.”

Mr Nelson Quek, Regional CEO Southeast Asia, PSA International, said, “In collaboration with like-minded industry partners, we are excited to commission the first H₂ refueling facility in the port, a significant step forward in our efforts to develop a H₂ refueling ecosystem in Singapore. PSA will continue to seek potential technologies and actively test-bed low-carbon, innovative sustainability solutions that can be deployed beyond the industry, as we strive to collectively decarbonize and drive greener outcomes across the entire value chain.”

Chiyoda, headquartered in Japan, provides technical expertise through SPERA H₂, their proprietary technology that uses dehydrogenation catalysts to extract H₂ from MCH as LOCH for storage and transportation as a liquid form under ambient conditions.

As an advanced technology provider and key project partner, Chiyoda is collaborating with NTU by applying their engineering expertise and experience to develop and implement the technology on a national scale and providing their dehydrogenation skids to extract H₂ from MCH.

Koji Ota, President & CEO, Chiyoda, said, “We are delighted to commence this demonstration using H₂ for an industrial application which will lead to long-term CO₂ emission reductions in Singapore, and contribute to global decarbonization through SPERA H₂. Chiyoda will further accelerate the expansion of its H₂ value chain business towards a sustainable future by maximizing the unique advantages of our SPERA H₂ system, including its stability under ambient temperature and pressure, its safe and easy-to-handle characteristics and its cost competitiveness, intensified by using existing petrochemical infrastructure and regulations and standards, as demonstrated by this project which operates under existing laws. This project is of great significance to Singapore and is a major step forward toward the future diffusion of H₂ on a global scale.”