To investigate the usage of hydrogen energy in Singapore, industrial gas provider Linde is collaborating with STT and Malaysia’s YTL.
In order to support Singapore’s sustainability initiatives, Linde, which has a multi-billion dollar hydrogen industry, has struck a deal with ST Telemedia Global Data Centers (STT GDC), YTL PowerSeraya, and YTL Data Center Holdings to collaborate on a hydrogen energy-proof of concept.
According to Qian Wen-Bin, Linde’s Asia Pacific head of clean hydrogen and decarbonization, the company now has more than 150 significant hydrogen production units operating globally and has a US$2.5 billion hydrogen business. “To build a more sustainable future for Singapore, our long-standing knowledge and dependable technology for hydrogen generation, processing, and delivery will provide Singapore’s power industry a competitive and efficient decarbonization pathway.”
Singapore’s desire to become a digital powerhouse clash with the country’s dearth of renewable energy sources. More than 7% of the country’s electricity, which is nearly exclusively produced from fossil fuels, is used by data centers. The ban on new data centers in Singapore began in 2019, and it was officially lifted in January 2022, while sources indicate that for the time being, only modest amounts of additional capacity will be permitted.
In Singapore, hydrogen has been proposed as a means of energy storage before, however more frequently by STT GDC’s adversary Keppel. Mitsubishi and Keppel proposed hydrogen power stations for 2020. Later that year, Keppel unveiled a proposal with Osaka Gas to transport the hydrogen from Australia. Linde was a member of the consortium formed in 2021 to import hydrogen for Keppel. A floating data center park has also previously been suggested by Keppel.
In contrast, STT GDC revealed in its first sustainability report that it has purchased carbon credits in Singapore to account for about 15% of its local energy usage in late 2021. In general, the business has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
According to Bruno Lopez, president and group CEO of STT GDC, “Sustainability has always been a focus for STT GDC, especially in recent years as climate concerns have become more pervasive.” “However, we need to address the problem at the root of the power ecosystem if we’re going to actually have an effect with decarbonization.”
According to John Ng, CEO of YTL PowerSeraya, “We are at the core of the energy shift as one of Singapore’s major power production firms and are dedicated to researching energy breakthroughs and expanding the nation’s capabilities in alternative energy sources.”
YTL PowerSeraya, a member of the YTL Group of Companies, plans to become carbon neutral by 2050 and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60 percent by 2030. In Malaysia, YTL Data Center just opened its first green data center park. Additionally, Linde declared their intention to cut GHG emissions by 35% by 2035.
