Singapore’s gas utility provider City Energy and Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas)’s clean energy solutions provider Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), have signed two memoranda of understanding (MOU) to jointly conduct feasibility studies of a hydrogen supply chain between the two countries, and create electric vehicle (EV) charging networks.
The two parties said in a statement on Tuesday that under the partnership, City Energy and Gentari will leverage each other’s strengths, expertise and resources to pursue opportunities in the import of hydrogen into Singapore.
In addition to supporting Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which was announced in October 2022 as a key decarbonization pathway to support Singapore’s international climate commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, the agreements enable City Energy to explore alternate sources of hydrogen to reinforce its decarbonization efforts.
Both parties will also explore other hydrogen-related opportunities.
“This strategic partnership between City Energy and Gentari is a key development for us,
“As City Energy is the sole piped town gas provider for more than 880,000 homes and businesses, City Energy is well placed to establish a hydrogen supply for the future
production of our town gas,” said Perry Ong, Chief Executive Officer of City Energy.
It is noted that Hydrogen is the largest component in town gas produced at City Energy’s Senoko Gasworks plant, making City Energy one of the largest last-mile carrier of hydrogen in Singapore.
The collaboration with Gentari follows City Energy’s ongoing feasibility studies with leading industry partners and institutes of higher learning to explore alternative sources of hydrogen.
“While Gentari aims to become the go-to industry partner for clean hydrogen, we want to be able to provide integrated clean energy solutions for customers in Asia Pacific, among others,” said Michèle Azalbert, Gentari’s Chief Hydrogen Officer.
According to her, the collaboration with City Energy is taking a step towards the right path in providing that solution.
“We believe this partnership will be the first of many in Singapore. We are committed to support Singapore in achieving net zero emissions by 2050,” she added.
According to the statement, Gentari aims to produce up to 1.2 million tons per annum of clean hydrogen to address the future increase of clean energy demand.
The collaboration with City Energy will accelerate the adoption of clean hydrogen as an energy source and signifies commitment towards providing clean hydrogen from Malaysia to Singapore.
Meanwhile, the second MOU will see Go by City Energy (Go) and Gentari working together to deepen and expand the understanding of the EV market and behavior of EV users in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as co-deploying publicly accessible EV chargers on each other’s EV networks.
The two parties will also explore and identify best practices for mobile roaming applications in both countries.
In April 2022, City Energy launched its EV charging solution arm, Go, to provide EV charging solution as a service to commercial buildings, mixed developments, and private housing estates, to support Singapore’s set target of reduced land transport emissions by 80 percent from the 2016 peak by, or around 2050.
As the EV charging service provider to offer cross-border connectivity into Malaysia through an operational service across Singapore and Malaysia with mobile application, Go now offers 118 charging points across more than 50 locations in Malaysia through its app, City Energy Go.
This collaboration between Go and Gentari will accelerate the pace of charger deployments by both parties through co-deployment arrangements.
Both parties will work on expanding their EV charging networks, allowing EV drivers in both Singapore and Malaysia connectivity and convenience.
“Range anxiety is a real concern for electric car drivers. For those driving between Singapore and Malaysia, a seamless, highly accessible network of chargers will put their mind at ease, and this is what City Energy seeks to do with our partners across the Causeway,
“As we continue our expansion of our Go by City Energy network of private and commercial developments in Singapore, we will distinguish ourselves through added value in the form of a robust cross-border EV network built on expanded connectivity into Malaysia,” said Ong.
Gentari is the second Malaysian company City Energy is collaborating with for EV charging.
The MOU between Gentari and Go will not only support EV infrastructure development in Singapore and Malaysia respectively, but also encourage the development of a robust cross-border EV network, ensuring a more seamless customer experience for EV drivers traveling between the two countries.
“At Gentari, we are working with like-minded partners to support network development in driving sustainable mobility,
“Today, we are partnering with City Energy to ensure a seamless driving experience for EV users between Malaysia and Singapore, and we hope this collaboration will also become Gentari’s foray into the Singapore market to support regional development of charging network within Asia Pacific,” said Shah Yang Razali, Gentari’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Green Mobility Officer.
Keyword: City Energy partners Gentari for hydrogen import and cross-border EV charging networks