Singapore launches EOI for ammonia bunkering, power generation

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore and the country’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) have jointly launched an EOI process to build, own and operate low or zero-carbon power generation and bunkering projects on Jurong Island. The process is intended to help Singapore to assess the viability of similar future projects, and to support the development of the safety standards & regulations required – a very similar approach to the GCMD-led ammonia bunkering study currently in progress. Proposals are due by the end of April 2023.

Hydrogen and ammonia have the potential to be a needle-moving decarbonisation solution for the power sector. Through this Expression of Interest, EMA is keen to collaborate with interested industry partners to explore what could possibly be the world’s first low or zero-carbon ammonia solution for power generation.

Energy Market Authority CEO Ngiam Shih Chun in the MPA’s official press release, 5 Dec 2022

The power generation project starts small, with a minimum capacity of 50 MW (75% load factor) based on ammonia-fed combined cycle gas turbines, or hydrogen-fed gas turbines with ammonia cracking. An operational lifetime of 25 years is stipulated, with operations to begin in 2027 or before.

Expansion is a key theme of the power generation project: participants are encouraged to think beyond the minimum capacity size (no restrictions are given), and to select a site where phased expansion is possible. Proposals for greenfield sites where there are no existing facilities need to include land use details and plans for a scale-up to one million tonnes hydrogen (nearly six million tonnes ammonia) annual throughput.

Where bunkering is concerned, the EOI stipulates that participants are:

…responsible for the procurement, import, storage, and distribution of low or zero-carbon ammonia, and ammonia-derived hydrogen if applicable. The import terminal and storage facility shall be designed to cater for both power generation and bunkering requirements. The storage and jetty [must be] designed for at least 0.1 million tons per annum (MTPA) capacity of ammonia bunkering.

Section 3 “Overview of Requirements”, from Expression Of Interest (EOI) To Develop An End-To- End Low Or Zero-Carbon Ammonia Power Generation And Bunkering Solution (“Project”) In Singapore, 5 Dec 2022

The seeking out of potential offtakers for either the electricity generated or ammonia bunker fuel is also encouraged.