600MW Hydrogen-Ready CCGT in Jurong, Part of Singapore's Green Plan of Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

Hydrogen-Ready CCGT in Jurong Singapore will be operational by the end of 2027. This comes after YTLPS proposal was approved by the EMA in 2023.

Overview of the hydrogen-ready CCGT in Pulau Seraya Power Station

The Hydrogen-ready Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) in Singapore’s Jurong will be built, owned, and operated by YTL PowerSeraya (YTLPS). The company is a subsidiary of YTL Power International. The construction of the CCGT came after YTLPS won the Request for Proposal to develop a hydrogen-ready CCGT at Pulau Seraya Power Station (PSPS).

In July 2023, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) launched a request for proposals to ensure Singapore maintains sufficient generation capacity. After four proposals from different companies, YTLPS was awarded the contract in January of 2024.

Upon winning the contract, YTL PowerSeraya chief executive officer John Ng stated that the company is honored for being entrusted with the responsibility of constructing a hydrogen-ready CCGT at PSPS.

Their proposal is the construction of a 600MW hydrogen-ready CCGT. The amount of energy the CCGT can carry will power 864,000 4-room flats for a year. The project cost is $800 million and the target completion date is on December 31, 2027.

A Hydrogen-ready CCGT

The Hydrogen Hub will complement Singapore’s diverse energy sources: solar, imported electricity, and other low-carbon sources. It will support the country’s generation capacity and meet the growing electricity demand.

YTL PowerSeraya CEO Mr. John Ng states that YTLPS is committed to shaping the energy landscape in Singapore. “YTL PowerSeraya will commit to contributing to Singapore’s energy security while maintaining environmental goals.”

Initially, the CCGT will carry a 30 percent hydrogen volume and 70 percent fossil fuel. Future retrofitting on the hub will increase the volume to 100 percent hydrogen-ready.

A combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) is a power plant that will generate electricity through the combination of gas and steam turbines. With a Hydrogen-ready CCGT, the conversion from gas to hydrogen will be an easier process.

Hydrogen produces no carbon when burned which means this fuel does not negatively impact the environment. However, hydrogen production can cause varying levels of carbon emissions. Hydrogen production through “electrolysis” or splitting water molecules is green through solar energy. Extracting hydrogen from coal creates substantial amounts of carbon emissions, however.

Singapore Green Plan: A goal of net-zero emissions by 2050

YTLPS’s hydrogen-ready CCGT is a step towards the “Singapore Green Plan”. This is the nation’s long-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

As of 2022, the electricity generation capacity of Singapore stands at 12,800MW. Due to the steady increase in energy demand with the rise of digitalization, the nation is looking to increase its energy capacity generation. The country is also planning to increase electric vehicles by 2030, and cessation of diesel car registrations from 2025. Singapore is moving towards clean energy models such as electric, hybrid, and hydrogen cells.

According to industry experts, hydrogen production will become cost-effective by 2030. Researchers from highly regarded institutions like MIT and Harvard are researching designs and locations for large-scale hydrogen generations.