Keppel Corporation and Pan-United Corporation, alongside Chevron Singapore, Surbana Jurong, Air Liquide Singapore, Osaka Gas Singapore, and Pavilion Energy, have solidified their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under the banner of the Low Carbon Technology Industry Consortium (LCT-IC).
The consortium aims to propel the development of cost-effective carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, as well as foster the growth of the hydrogen power supply chain and infrastructure.
This initiative, an extension of a previous MOU from July 2020, focuses on commercializing new, lower-carbon technology pathways in Singapore. The newly added members, Air Liquide Singapore, Osaka Gas Singapore, and Pavilion Energy, bring additional expertise and resources to the consortium.
The LCT-IC’s goals align with Singapore’s broader net-zero targets, contributing to a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. The collaboration doesn’t just stop at the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles but extends to comprehensive approaches for hydrogen production. The Waste-to-Hydrogen (W2H) initiative involves fermenting organic waste to produce biogas, while the Plastic-to-Hydrogen (P2H) process transforms non-recyclable waste plastic into hydrogen.
In addition to these advancements, the consortium has been actively engaged in collaborative projects with the National University of Singapore (NUS), proposing solutions to combat rising seawater levels, and developing novel hollow fiber membranes for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture.
However, the enthusiasm for CCUS technology is met with skepticism from critics who view it as a potential greenwashing strategy for oil majors. Despite claims that carbon capture will play a crucial role in the energy transition, scaling up these technologies remains a considerable challenge. While 40 large-scale carbon capture projects are operational today, capturing roughly 45 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually, it constitutes only 0.1% of the world’s emissions, highlighting the need for further innovation and commitment from the fossil fuel industry.
