Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), PSA Singapore (PSA) and Japan’s Chiyoda Corporation (Chiyoda) have begun testing how hydrogen can be transported and stored as methylcyclohexane (MCH).
MCH is a liquid form at ambient temperature and pressure before gaseous hydrogen 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 operationalised the first hydrogen refuelling station and provided a hydrogen 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 hydrogen, which can in turn contribute to the expansion of global hydrogen supply chains.
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 hydrogen can be used as a fuel for refuelling stations on-site.
In this PoC project, PSA provided a hydrogen refuelling station and a prime mover and shared the demonstration site and utilities with industry partners. PSA is also responsible for the construction, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the hydrogen refuelling facility.
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 hydrogen, and the promising success of laboratory trials has led to real-world tests.
“Liquid organic hydrogen carrier technology is a promising solution to safely transport hydrogen, 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.”
In March, Singapore and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to legally create the Singapore-Australia Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC).
More recently, Fortescue, with assistance from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), completed propulsion and manoeuvrability trials of its Singapore-registered Fortescue Green Pioneer at the Port of Singapore.