Sembcorp, Chiyoda and Mitsubishi to explore supply chain commercialization of decarbonized hydrogen into Singapore

Sembcorp Utilities, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp), Chiyoda Corporation (Chiyoda), and Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi) have signed a strategic collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to investigate the feasibility and implementation of a commercial-scale supply chain for decarbonised hydrogen in Singapore, leveraging Chiyoda’s proven hydrogen storage and transportation technology.

The Japanese government announced the Asia Energy Transition Initiative (AETI) in May 2021, with the goal of assisting Asia in achieving sustainable economic growth and carbon neutrality, and the Japanese and Singaporean governments have begun discussions on energy transition. Japan will support Singapore’s energy transformation through the use of Japanese businesses’ technology, such as Chiyoda’s “SPERA Hydrogen” and its commercialization, under the AETI.

Chiyoda invented the “SPERA Hydrogen” technology for hydrogen extraction from Methylcyclohexane (MCH1). MCH is a form of liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC2) that looks to be a more acceptable hydrogen carrier than other hydrogen carriers, owing to its safety and compatibility with current industrial infrastructure.

This memorandum of understanding is a critical strategic step toward the establishment of a commercial-scale global supply chain for decarbonised hydrogen into Singapore. The parties seek to collaborate to identify the most cost-effective hydrogen generation methods in offshore sites for further hydrogenation in these selected locations, with the goal of eventually shipping MCH to Singapore for consumption.