Singapore Opens S$75 Million Programme for Low-Carbon Power Research
The funding initiative targets hydrogen, solar and biomass technologies, including a S$25 million industry-led research scheme, as Singapore seeks to reduce power-sector emissions.
Singapore has launched a S$75 million research funding initiative for low-carbon power technologies, targeting hydrogen, solar energy and biomass as the country explores ways to reduce emissions from electricity generation.
The Energy Market Authority and the Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office announced the programme on October 26. It forms part of the larger S$800 million Decarbonisation Grand Challenge under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 framework.
The initiative supports both laboratory research and the testing of technologies that are closer to practical deployment. Proposed areas of work include faster switching between hydrogen-based and backup fuels at power plants, safer hydrogen infrastructure and lower-cost extraction of hydrogen from carriers such as ammonia and methanol.
Solar research will focus on cheaper installations on unconventional surfaces and photovoltaic modules with higher efficiency or lighter, more flexible designs. Biomass research will examine ways to turn ash into useful products at low processing cost.
A S$25 million component called Decarbonisation Research for Industry, Ventures, and Enterprise, or DRIVE, is intended for industry-designed projects. Companies and technology providers will define challenges and work with Singapore-based public research organisations. The government says qualifying public research performers may receive co-funding of up to 75% of eligible project costs.
The S$75 million figure is a funding allocation, not a claim that all grants have already been awarded or spent. The scheme is distinct from the separate infrastructure programme to add power plants, grid capacity and energy storage.
Singapore continues to rely heavily on natural gas for electricity. The new research programme is intended to develop alternatives and supporting technologies, but its eventual impact will depend on technical performance, costs and whether research results can be deployed at scale.
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