Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine and the nation’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop solutions in the areas of emerging low carbon alternatives, digitalisation and distributed energy resources.F

Under the MoU, the EMA and Keppel are launching a grant call for solutions relating to energy storage systems and smart power grids for the offshore and marine environment.

These solutions should seek to reduce overall energy usage and carbon footprint while enhancing overall operational efficiency.

The grant call serves to encourage innovation and capability building for the wider industry ecosystem in Singapore.

The grant call is open for applications until 24 June 2020.

Interested companies, research institutes and institutes of higher learning can participate.

Shortlisted participants will have the opportunity to test bed their solutions through Keppel O&M’s Floating Living Lab (FLL), the first-of-its-kind offshore floating test bed in Singapore

Expected to be operational by end 2021, Keppel O&M’s FLL will provide a platform for the industry and the research community to test bed and commercialise promising power and technology solutions for the marine sector.

The FLL will have liquefied natural gas bunkering facilities for harbour craft and small vessels. It will also house an embedded power generation system to power Keppel O&M’s operations, with excess electricity to be exported to the national grid.

“We hope to develop innovative energy solutions for the marine sector through this partnership with Keppel O&M,” said EMA chief executive Ngiam Shih Chun.

“We are seeking solutions that incorporate the use of cleaner energy, optimise energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.

“By doing so, we are building Singapore’s ‘Energy Story’ by co-creating solutions for a more sustainable energy future with stakeholders.”

Keppel O&M chief executive Chris Ong added: “Our use of digitalisation and data analytics will reduce energy waste and increase the use of cleaner energy.

“Our Floating Living Lab will help to reduce our carbon footprint by leveraging and test bedding clean floating energy solutions.

"At the same time, it enables Keppel O&M to provide power for our own operations, support customers in delivering cleaner power, grow our LNG bunkering services and improve the efficiency of the current supply chain, while extending our gas offerings in the floating power segment,” said Ong.

Keppel O&M and the EMA also have forged a S$10 million (US$7.03 million) partnership as the energy sector is calling for innovative energy solutions in the marine sector for the adoption of cleaner energy and greater environmental sustainability.