H2 proof of concept launches in Singapore

In October 2022 the government launched Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy to explore the gas’s potential in reducing the use of fossil fuels.

More recently parliament mandated net-zero emissions by 2050 for harbour craft with the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) playing a key role partnering with industry, harbour craft operators, financial institutions and manufacturers to help early adopters of greener fuels and monitor the progress towards the decarbonisation goal.

“Acknowledging the significant challenges that coastal vessel owners and operators face in the transition towards an electric fleet, our goal is to ease and boost adoption by achieving mass commercialisation of electrification technologies,” explained Tommy Phun, founder and chief executive of Pyxis. The start up is part of a consortium led by offshore and marine engineering company Seatrium (formerly Sembcorp Marine Ltd), which is currently retrofitting an existing passenger ferry to become fully electric-powered by 2025.

Pyxis is also building a new electric coastal vessel, which is due to be launched later in 2023. 

The Motorship notes that Syndrogen Energy is a subsidiary of Singapore-based Nanofilm Technologies group, in which Temasek Investment Holdings retains a shareholding. Syndrogen has developed a pure carbon coating leveraging Nanofilm Technologies’ nanofilm expertise which it claims will improve the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells while lowering production costs for PEM Fuel cells bipolar plates.

David DeVries, chief executive of Sydrogen Energy, added: “Zero emission power generation plays an important role in decarbonising our energy use. The proof of concept combines Sydrogen’s deep tech capabilities with a key maritime ecosystem player to develop home-grown solutions to future-proof Singapore’s maritime energy mix.”