Singapore to launch RFP for low- or zero-carbon ammonia solution project

SINGAPORE: Singapore has shortlisted six consortiums whose proposals will be further developed in a closed Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide a low- or zero-carbon ammonia solution for power generation and bunkering on Jurong Island.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in a joint statement today (October 23), said the RFP will be launched before the end of this year.

The RFP is the next stage in the selection of a developer, following the Expression of Interest (EOI) that was launched in December last year and closed at the end of April this year, said the statement.

Under the EOI, EMA and MPA received a total of 26 proposals, underscoring strong interest from local and international companies.

The statement said that following a rigorous evaluation process by the agencies, six proposals have been shortlisted for a closed RFP based on the technical, land optimisation, safety, and commercial aspects.

The closed RFP seeks to select a lead developer that the government will work with to jointly develop the proposed end-to-end ammonia solution, it added.

The solution comprises, among others, facilitating ammonia bunkering at a capacity of at least 0.1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), starting with shore-to-ship bunkering followed by ship-to-ship bunkering.

Given the nascency of the technology and global supply chains, the government will work closely with the selected developer to implement the project, said the statement.

The agencies noted that the project positions Singapore as one of the first countries in the world to test and deploy a direct ammonia combustion power plant and support the holistic assessment of ammonia bunkering for both international shipping and domestic harbour craft.

If proven viable, the project will contribute significantly to unlocking the potential of low-carbon ammonia as a low-carbon fuel, said the joint statement.

A key thrust of Singapore's National Hydrogen Strategy, announced at the Singapore International Energy Week in October last year, is to experiment with the use of advanced hydrogen technologies that are on the cusp of commercial readiness.

According to the agencies, ammonia is currently one of the most technologically ready hydrogen carriers with an established international supply chain for industrial use.

Low- or zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia may also have multiple end-use pathways for power generation and bunkering, it said. – Bernama