Alternative Fuels

Singapore: Pyxis, Sydrogen to deploy hydrogen fuel solutions including harbour craft electrification

Pyxis and Sydrogen will work collaboratively to develop hydrogen fuel cell solutions for the maritime harbour craft ecosystem from shore to sea to achieve Singapore’s electrification goals.

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2023

Admin

Maritime electrification technology start-up Pyxis and fuel cell components manufacturer Sydrogen Energy on Tuesday (8 August) said they have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly execute a Proof of Concept (PoC) study in the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell solutions.

Expected to commence in 4Q 2023 (after the definitive agreements have been negotiated and entered into) and continue till early 2025, this study will further explore hydrogen fuel cells for broader maritime applications.

According to the duo, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy on 25 October 20222, as part of the plan to accelerate the transition to net zero emissions with hydrogen as a key potential decarbonisation pathway for Singapore.

In the recent Committee of Supply debate on 3 March 2023, Parliament outlined initiatives to require harbour craft in the maritime sector to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 where the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) will partner with industry, financial institutions, harbour craft operators and manufacturers to help lower the cost of adoption and mobilise support for early adopters. A call for proposals for the design and development, demand aggregation and green financing for new electric harbour craft (e-HC) was announced on 10 July 2023, beginning with an Expression of Interest (EOI) to design and develop electric harbour craft in Singapore.

Pleasure craft sector and domestic tugboats will subsequently be required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 with MPA performing a study of the timelines for the transition and will provide an update in 2024.

This follows the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint in 2022, where all harbour craft will operate on low-carbon energy solutions by 2030, to reduce 15% in emissions from 2021 levels and up to 50% decrease in emissions (compared to 2030) by 2050. Ultimately, the MPA aims for its harbour craft fleet to transition to full-electric propulsion and net zero fuels by 2050.

In view of these developments, Pyxis partners Sydrogen to accelerate decarbonisation of harbour craft by harnessing green technology (hydrogen) for the rapid electrification and power generation requirements to decarbonise the maritime industry’s energy mix.

Under the MOU, Pyxis and Sydrogen will work collaboratively to develop hydrogen fuel cell solutions for the maritime harbor craft ecosystem from shore to sea, with the objective to achieve Singapore’s electrification goals and pave the way to net zero emissions.

Tommy Phun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pyxis, said, “The sustainability movement has sparked a transformative disruption in the maritime industry. Decarbonisation is no longer a bonus, but a necessity. Acknowledging the significant challenges that coastal vessel owners and operators face in the transition towards an electric fleet, our goal is to ease and boost adoption by achieving mass commercialisation of electrification technologies. Our strategic partnership with Sydrogen Energy brings together two homegrown companies to lead the charge in positioning Singapore at the forefront of maritime decarbonisation in the region.”

David DeVries, Chief Executive Officer of Sydrogen Energy, said: “Zero emission power generation plays an important role in decarbonising our energy use. The proof of concept combines Sydrogen’s Deep Tech capabilities with a key maritime ecosystem player to develop home-grown solutions to future-proof Singapore’s maritime energy mix. We are glad to work with future-centric partners such as Pyxis in this endeavour toward building out local innovations to meet our near and long term decarbonisation targets.”

Photo credit: Pyxis
Published: 10 August, 2023

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Environment

IMO Secretary-General: Net-Zero Framework sends clear demand signal to bunker fuel producers

New regulations will require investment for decarbonisation to take place, states Arsenio Dominguez.

Published

22 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Admin

Shipping gears up for massive investments in decarbonization 2 medium

The global shipping industry is preparing for a net-zero transformation that will have a sector-wide impact on everything from supply chains and business models, to ships, ports and the maritime workforce, said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

IMO approved new regulations for net-zero marine fuels and emissions in April, set for adoption in October. Calls for investments in decarbonisation are getting louder.

“Regulations alone cannot do the job. We need technological development and we need alternative fuels… And that can only happen in one way – with investment,” he said, speaking at the Blue Economy Finance Forum in Monaco (8 June).

This includes investing in scaling up production of alternative bunker fuels in large enough quantities to replace the 350 million tonnes of fuel oil currently burned by ships each year.

Upgrading port infrastructure and bunker operations will also be required to safely provide clean energy for ships when they call at ports around the world.

“The liner industry has already invested USD 150 billion in decarbonisation. It is unprecedented for the transport sector,” said President of the World Shipping Council, Joe Kramek. “But we need the fuel supply… it’s a tremendous investment opportunity.”

The new set of regulations, known as the “IMO Net-Zero Framework”, takes a two- pronged approach: a global fuel standard that limits the greenhouse gas (GHG) fuel intensity of marine fuels, and a price placed on the GHG emissions from ships.

The regulations send a clear demand signal to fuel producers, while rewarding ‘first movers’ – shipping companies who take the risk to adopt low- and zero-emission solutions early, and who are then able to share their experiences and expertise with others.

The IMO Net-Zero Framework works alongside earlier measures adopted by IMO to enhance energy-efficient ship design, operational improvements and carbon intensity ratings. They will be reviewed every five years, with emission limits tightened over time.

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 17 June 2025

Newbuilding

NYK Group’s first methanol-fuelled bulk carrier “Green Future” delivered

Vessel is the first bulk carrier in the NYK Group to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that uses methanol and fuel oil.

Published

22 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Admin

NYK Group on 13 May received delivery of Green Future, the company’s first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier, at the TSUNEISHI Factory of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. where a naming and delivery ceremony was also held, it said on Thursday (14 June).

The vessel will be chartered by NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd., an NYK Group company, from KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd.

It is the first bulk carrier in the NYK Group to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that uses methanol and fuel oil.

“Methanol has a lower environmental impact than fuel oil, and by using bio-methanol and e-methanol produced using hydrogen derived from renewable energy sources and recovered carbon dioxide, the vessel achieves significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” it said.

Vessel Particulars
LOA: 199.99 m
Breadth: 32.25 m
Depth: 19.15 m
Deadweight: approx. 65,700 metric tons
Capacity: approx. 81,500 m³
Draft: 13.8 m

Photo credit: NYK Group
Published: 17 June 2025

Ammonia

Yara Clean Ammonia voices support for ammonia bunkering pilot

Pilot has generated crucial real-world data and best practices for future ammonia bunkering operations globally.

Published

23 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Admin

Yara Clean Ammonia (YCA), the world’s largest trader and distributor of ammonia, on Friday (13 June) announced its key role in a landmark maritime decarbonisation initiative led by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD).

The successful completion of the first-ever ship-to-ship transfer (STS) of ammonia at anchorage in Western Australia marks a major milestone in paving the way for ammonia as a viable marine fuel, it said.

Under the supervision of the Pilbara Port Authority (PPA), the pilot took place within the anchorage area of Port Dampier, simulating real-world bunkering conditions and demonstrating that ammonia transfer can be executed safely and effectively offshore.

According to YCA, the trial builds on the insights from GCMD’s prior safety study in Singapore and confirms that, with the right controls in place, ammonia STS transfers at anchorage are both safe and scalable.

The pilot has also generated crucial real-world data and best practices for future ammonia bunkering operations globally.

“This successful trial is a pivotal step towards building trust in ammonia as a zero-to-near-zero emission (ZNZ) maritime fuel,” said Murali Srinivasan SVP Commercial in Yara Clean Ammonia.

“It’s the result of world-class collaboration and careful planning—and it shows that with the right safeguards, ammonia bunkering is not only feasible but practical.”

Photo credit: Yara Clean Ammonia
Published: 17 June 2025