Sembcorp forges ties with Japan on hydrogen and decarbonisation initiatives

Singapore-based energy solutions provider Sembcorp Industries has formed strategic partnerships with the Japanese government and various corporations to progress hydrogen and other decarbonisation initiatives.

The collaborations were signed on 25 October on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week and will enable Semcorp to access and leverage Japan’s technology in hydrogen development and deployment.

The hydrogen supply chain will be a prominent focus across all partnerships, Sembcorp said in a statement.

The partnerships formed include:

• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), for JBIC to support projects developed by Sembcorp and Japanese companies, with a focus on green hydrogen and ammonia;
• An MoU with Sojitz Corporation to partner on new renewable energy projects, including green hydrogen production, battery energy storage systems, and net-zero industrial parks, in Asia Pacific;
• An MoU with IHI Corporation to collaborate on an integrated green ammonia supply chain, both upstream and downstream; and
• Advancing the development of hydrogen imports via methylcyclohexane, a type of liquid organic hydrogen carrier, with the commencement of pre-FEED studies under the MoU with Mitsubishi Corporation and Chiyoda Corporation signed in October 2021.

Wong Kim Yin, Group President & CEO, Sembcorp Industries, said: “The partnerships forged today align with Sembcorp’s brown to green transformation, and will enable us to play a pivotal role in the decarbonisation of various industries, including power. We are pleased to be the first Singapore company partnering JBIC on exploring hydrogen and its derivatives as the most promising substitute for natural gas.

“Our new energy collaborations with Japan’s leading corporations will benefit from JBIC’s support, and will also leverage our proven expertise in renewables to support Singapore’s ambitions to form and scale up low-carbon hydrogen supply chains. Sembcorp remains committed and is well-placed to enable the nation’s transition to net-zero emissions.”