Singapore invests in marine fuel cell research

Singapore is investing up to Singapore $6 million (US$ 4.5 million) in maritime fuel cell research.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching a new Maritime Fuel Cell Research Initiative as part of joint efforts to promote greener shipping in Singapore.

The aim is to seed and encourage projects that will yield improvements and breakthroughs in the use of fuel cell and other technologies. The projects will focus on research, development, test-bedding and eventual commercialization of fuel cell applications and other technologies for the maritime industry.

Co-funded by MPA’s Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund and TP, research grants of up to S$4 million (US$3.03 million) and S$1 million (US$757,000) will be contributed by MPA and TP respectively over a three-year period. MPA and TP will also work towards securing industry co-funding of up to S$1 million.

Temasek Polytechic’s Fuel Cell Community was established in March 2007 and its Clean Energy Center (CEC) has become the focal point for fuel cell technology applications and solutions in Singapore.

The MOU identifies two research projects. The first project is to testbed fuel cell as auxiliary power in vessels, and the second is to develop an automated process of supplying continuous clean power to underwater systems and devices, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), submerged acoustic devices and underwater data logging instruments.

Nov. 29, 2010