Hydrogen-ready power plant under construction

Keppel, together with Mitsubishi Power and Jurong Engineering consortium, broke ground for Singapore’s first hydrogen-ready cogeneration plant. (Image: Mitsubishi Power)

Asset manager Keppel has broken ground on Singapore’s first hydrogen ready cogeneration plant.

The Keppel Sakra Cogen Plant (KSC Plant), located in the Sakra sector of Jurong Island, will be a 600MW advanced combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant. Keppel is working with Mitsubishi Power and Jurong Engineering consortium on the project.

The groundbreaking of the KSC plant comes on the back of Singapore identifying hydrogen as a major decarbonization pathway to support Singapore’s international climate commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The KSC Plant is designed to be able co-fire with 30% hydrogen content and has the capability of shifting to run entirely on hydrogen in line with the decarbonisation of Singapore’s power sector.

In addition, as a CCGT power plant, the KSC Plant would be able to produce steam for use in industrial processes for energy and chemicals customers on Jurong Island.

Expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, the KSC Plant will operate initially on natural gas as a primary fuel, and is envisaged to be able to save up to 220,000 tons per year of CO2 as compared to Singapore’s average operating efficiency for equivalent power generated. 

“As Singapore’s first hydrogen ready power plant, the Keppel Sakra Cogen Plant represents a decisive step by Keppel to invest in best-in-class power generation technology and to pivot to low-carbon solutions for power generation in good time,” said Cindy Lim, CEO of Infrastructure Division, Keppel. “To this end, Keppel is also working with international partners on low-carbon hydrogen, and hydrogen-derived fuels such as green ammonia, to support the decarbonization of the energy and chemical industries as well as the maritime and aviation sectors.”

Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, CE of Energy Market Authority, said electricity demand will continue to increase and more generation capacity will be needed while ensuring that the power sector transitions to a net-zero future. 

“We are honoured to play a key role in Singapore’s decarbonization efforts, supplying the KSC Plant with our cutting-edge JAC gas turbine specifically designed for seamless integration with hydrogen fuel,” said Takashi Tozawa, head of GTCC Business Division, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. “With a global track record of 110 units ordered, our J-series gas turbines possess unparalleled reliability and efficiency, offering the potential to adopt hydrogen into the plant’s energy mix. We anticipate continued collaboration with Keppel to help make long-term net zero goals a reality in Singapore and the region.”

Since 2007, Keppel has been operating a 1300 MW combined cycle gas turbine generation facility on Jurong Island. The plant started with a generation capacity of 500 MW and expanded an additional 800 MW in 2013.