Keppel Infrastructure and NUS collaborate to jumpstart smart grid, clean power, renewables and sustainable environmental technology solutions

Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd (Keppel Infrastructure), has entered into a Master Research Collaboration Agreement with the National University of Singapore (NUS). This strategic partnership will bolster Keppel Infrastructure’s low-carbon energy innovation and translational research and development of solutions in smart grid, renewables and clean energy, as well as decarbonisation technologies.

As part of the collaboration, Keppel Infrastructure and NUS will leverage the NUS Kent Ridge campus for the “Keppel Infrastructure-NUS Low Carbon Living Laboratory” by creating, test bedding, and scaling up the deployment of commercially viable innovations in distributed energy management, integration of solar photovoltaics (PV), thermal energy storage, electrical microgrids, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trials. This partnership will also provide educational and training opportunities for NUS students, as well as opportunities for open collaboration with other ecosystem players such as start-ups, SMEs and researchers.

To jumpstart this strategic collaboration, Keppel Infrastructure and NUS have jointly identified technologically proven innovations for test bedding, demonstration and adaptation in live environments and system/subsystem integration across various technologies for data collection, analysis and performance validation with intent to accelerate commercial applications. The selected projects are:

1. Smart AC/DC hybrid microgrid: This project will ease the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources, such as solar PV and EV charging with V2G capabilities into the existing AC grid without disruption to the main power grid. The hybrid microgrid acts as a plug-in for the AC grid and will increase flexibility of diversified power interconnection, leading to greater grid reliability and efficiency.
2. Novel EV charging strategies: This project will deploy smart EV charging algorithms that will balance the needs and constraints of the existing electrical network, as well as charging demand of and charging cost to EV owners. This will accelerate the emerging readiness of V2G technology.
3. Innovative District cooling systems (DCS) for buildings integrated with thermal energy storage using proprietary phase change materials[1] as an energy storage medium, outdoor cooling technology and intelligent process optimisation. This project will provide next-generation district cooling solutions for a sustainable urban district, with substantial energy and space savings, as well as environmental benefits such as the reduction of heat island effect.
4. Experimentation and laboratory proof-of-concept on enhanced seawater desalination pretreatment technology for carbon dioxide sequestration and scalant removal. This project will be followed by potential demonstration at one of the desalination plants operated by Keppel Infrastructure.

Ms Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel Infrastructure, said, “We are redoubling our efforts in sustainability-linked innovation and technology development to sharpen Keppel Infrastructure’s competitive advantage in the low-carbon economy, and to partner and add value to industries and our customers in their green transition. To this end, we are excited to forge this significant partnership with NUS to accelerate the commercial deployment of innovative energy technologies, leveraging digitalisation and decentralisation for speed and scale. This is in line with Keppel’s Vision 2030 which places sustainability firmly at the core of the Company’s strategy.”

Professor Chen Tsuhan, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), said, “NUS is very excited to harness our strong capabilities in energy and sustainability research in this collaboration with Keppel Infrastructure to co-create commercially viable solutions for a smooth green transition. The NUS Kent Ridge campus will serve as a vibrant living laboratory, where innovative solutions are tested in a realistic operational environment before they are deployed at a larger scale. These technological capabilities will in turn help enhance the climate resilience of our campuses.”

In addition, Keppel Infrastructure and NUS will explore collaboration in other energy and sustainability related areas, such as decarbonisation of industrial emissions, innovative solar projects, as well as technologies and applications of carbon capture, including the use of nature-based solutions.

Keppel Corporation Limited, the parent company of Keppel Infrastructure, does not expect the abovementioned development to have any material impact on its earnings per share and net tangible asset per share for the current financial year.

[1]  Solution was jointly designed and developed by NUS and Keppel DHCS Pte Ltd (KDHCS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Infrastructure. The project was funded by the Energy Market Authority under its Energy Resilience Grant Call in 2018.