Non-profit calls for Singapore’s hydrogen investments to steer clear of non-green sources

SINGAPORE’s hydrogen strategy carries significant risks for investments into blue hydrogen or into use cases outside of hard-to-abate carbon-intensive sectors, a sustainable-development non-profit has said in a report.

In its report, Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) said that while hydrogen is a major prong in Singapore’s plan to decarbonise its energy sector by 2050, the alternative to fossil fuels is not a “panacea” for addressing the nation’s climate challenges.

ARE argued that blue hydrogen, which is hydrogen produced from fossil fuels supplemented with carbon removal technologies, may be at odds with credible climate goals given that it risks prolonging the use of fossil-based power as feedstock and would likely result in significant carbon lock-in risks.