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# Why Singapore is building hydrogen-ready power plants
- URL: https://www.techstories.co/why-singapore-is-building-hydrogen-ready-power-plants/
- Published: 2025-01-15T17:24:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-01-18T17:27:45.000Z
- Description: A strategy to tackle severely underdeveloped hydrogen supply chain.
- Author: Paul Mah
- Tags: Sustainability

Why is Singapore moving towards net zero by building multiple hydrogen-ready power plants?

PacificLight Power will build a 600MW hydrogen-compatible power plant on Jurong Island that will begin operations in 2029, according to the ST.

Why not jump straight into hydrogen - a clean fuel, and transition to clean energy immediately?

**The problem with hydrogen**

The main problem is the hydrogen supply chain, which is severely underdeveloped today.

Some might say it doesn't really exist at this point; everything must be built from scratch:

- Hydrogen production\*.
- Storage infrastructure.
- The vessels to transport it.
- Receiving, regasification facilities.
- End-users for the hydrogen.

\*Most green hydrogen projects are still in the early stages - there is just 16 GWe of green hydrogen capacity at final investment decision globally as of Dec 2024.

Moreover, hydrogen's low volumetric energy density means a lot must be transported to make economic sense. And it's transported as a liquid, which requires specialised processing and storage infrastructure.

**A gradual transition**

Instead of doing a wait-and-see, Singapore's strategy is to do a gradual transition by building hydrogen-ready power plants first.

- Start with 30% hydrogen & 70% natural gas mix.
- Switch to 100% hydrogen eventually.
- Build 9 hydrogen-ready plants by 2030.

According to the ST, all new and repowered natural gas power plants are at least 30% hydrogen-compatible since 2024.

![](https://www.techstories.co/content/images/2025/01/image-1.png)

****Photo Credit**: Screenshot/Straits Times

**Complex route to net zero**

Due to various inherent limitations including very limited renewables, Singapore faces an extremely challenging and complex route to net zero.

From what I've observed, there are multiple plans:

- Replace natural gas with hydrogen, ammonia.
- Blanket island with solar, including on reservoirs.
- Establish itself as a hub for renewable electricity.
- Enhance efficiency of key sectors such as data centres.

And yes, if you seem to be seeing more roadworks, it's not your imagination.

A multi-year effort is underway to upgrade the existing power grid, which was designed and built at a time before EVs and renewables.