Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and Siemens Energy have joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership to advance green hydrogen technologies.
At the heart of this collaboration is the endeavor to accelerate the decarbonization of TNB’s thermal power plants, and the tool of choice is green hydrogen derived from renewable energy resources. Under the MoU, TNB will harness the power of electrolyzers and tap into renewable energy sources such as pumped hydro and solar.
The MoU exchange took place during a ceremony at the Energy Transition Conference 2023 in August, witnessed by key figures in Malaysia’s energy landscape. The investment, trade, and industry minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abd Aziz, was present, along with the chairman of TNB, Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Majid, president and chief of TNB, Datuk Seri Ir Baharin Din, managing director of Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco), Ir Muhamad Nazri Pazil, and senior vice president and Siemens Energy managing director for Asia Pacific, Thorbjorn Fors.
Baharin, TNB’s chief, expressed that partnering with Siemens Energy is closely aligned with TNB’s aspirations for energy transition and sets the course for achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. The MoU serves as a framework for exploring innovative solutions and technologies that will pave the way for affordable green hydrogen generation in Malaysia.
The collaboration between TNB and Siemens Energy is further empowered by Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which recognizes hydrogen and ammonia co-firing as one of its flagship projects. TNB has been chosen as the champion to spearhead its implementation, in synergy with Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), as part of the national decarbonization initiative.
Through the partnership with Siemens Energy, TNB is poised to enhance its capabilities in various aspects of the green hydrogen value chain. This includes specifying, procuring, building, operating, maintaining, and overseeing the contractual and financial aspects of hydrogen production. The objective is to make green hydrogen a practical and cost-effective solution for co-firing in thermal power plants.
As Malaysia forges ahead in its quest to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a more sustainable energy future, the collaboration between TNB and Siemens Energy stands as a testament to the nation’s commitment to innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions. The successful implementation of green hydrogen technologies is set to drive the nation’s energy landscape towards a greener and more sustainable future.
