NTU and Imperial to advance green fuel cell technology

Scientists from NTU Singapore, and Imperial College London are collaborating to advance clean energy solutions, fuelled by a new grant to develop ammonia as a green fuel source.

The research project is supported by the CREATE Thematic Programme in Decarbonisation, first announced by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF Singapore) in July this year.

This CREATE programme aims to enhance Singapore’s capabilities in hydrogen utilisation and develop non-fossil fuel-based pathways for producing sustainable aviation fuel and high-value chemicals, contributing to the nation’s long-term sustainability goals.

With the new grant, NTU and Imperial researchers will be developing direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells (DA-SOFCs), which have the potential to deliver efficient and scalable energy for various applications.

The new collaboration will contribute to both Singapore’s and the UK’s efforts to adopt cleaner energy sources to combat climate change. It builds on the long-standing relationship between NTU Singapore and Imperial College, following the earlier collaboration for the IN-CYPHER programme, which aims to improve cybersecurity in healthcare.

Ammonia has recently emerged as a promising hydrogen carrier, offering high energy efficiency and scalability for clean energy solutions. Hosted at the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and led by its Co-Director, Professor Chan Siew Hwa, this ammonia fuel cell project holds significant potential to reduce carbon emissions and provide a sustainable power source for sectors such as transportation and urban infrastructure.

Leveraging the expertise of both institutions, the project aims to contribute significantly to Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative and Green Plan 2030, driving innovation in scalable energy solutions. It is well-aligned with Singapore's goals to transition to low-carbon hydrogen for power generation and could help the country meet its net zero emissions target by 2050.

Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU Singapore’s Vice President (Industry), said, “This collaboration brings together the best expertise in materials and energy from both NTU and Imperial, two institutions recognised globally for their leadership in these fields.

“NTU is committed to developing innovative solutions for sustainability, supporting Singapore's climate targets and its transition to low carbon energy sources. Fuel cells offer a clean and practical alternative that can complement batteries and other renewable energy technologies, with the potential to power transportation and urban infrastructure at scale. This project will advance new knowledge and support both Singapore's and the UK’s ambitions to adopt cleaner energy sources, contributing to our collective efforts to mitigate climate change."

Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise), Imperial College London, Professor Mary Ryan, said: “The transition to clean fuel is one of the great challenges of our time and we are proud to be bringing together world-leading experts at Imperial, NTU and Cambridge for this project. We would also like to thank the National Research Foundation Singapore for supporting this important work.

“Global challenges will only be solved through international collaboration and our brightest minds sharing ideas and expertise. International collaboration is in Imperial’s DNA and this project demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our partnerships with Singapore.”

The partnership will also nurture talent in the field of sustainable energy, equipping researchers and students with the skills needed to drive future advancements in clean technologies.