New Zealand, Singapore to cooperate on low carbon hydrogen
The cooperation agreement on low-carbon hydrogen can support both countries transition towards low carbon economies and decarbonisation of transport and industry sectors in particular.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the National Climate Change Secretariat have signed an Arrangement of Cooperation on low-carbon hydrogen in a virtual ceremony.
The collaboration agreement was signed by Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’ Second Minister for Trade and Industry and Megan Woods, New Zealand’s Minister for Energy and Resources.
The arrangement can provide the following opportunities:
- Chart standards and certifications and scale up respective hydrogen economies
- Establish supply chains for low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives
- Conduct joint research, development and deployment studies (RD&D)
- Strengthen networks and partnerships
The agreement will help to share knowledge between the two countries about hydrogen encompassing the use and deployment through small demonstration projects up to large scale construction to support the energy and transport sectors. Both partners can also benefit from the R&D of new hydrogen technologies. The cooperation will also help Singapore build an international network for low-carbon hydrogen cooperation and strengthen its hub capabilities within the global low-carbon hydrogen value chain.
The arrangement builds upon Singapore-New Zealand Enhanced Partnership signed in 2019. It will allow both countries to collaborate on the production, deployment and research into a new hydrogen economy. This is the second such hydrogen agreement signed by New Zealand following the 2018 memorandum with Japan. Meanwhile, Singapore has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Australia on low-emissions technologies and an MOU with Chile on low carbon hydrogen.
Megan Woods said, “New Zealand has an abundance of renewable energy that could be used to produce hydrogen, potentially for export, so this cooperation between us and Singapore, one of our most trusted, reliable, and long-standing partners in Asia, is significant.”
Dr Tan said, “This Arrangement regarding Cooperation on Low-Carbon Hydrogen is a key milestone in our bilateral energy cooperation that will further strengthen the relationship between Singapore and New Zealand.”
