Sarawak exports first green hydrogen to Singapore

KUCHING: Sarawak is set to export its batch of green hydrogen to Singapore, marking a major milestone in the state’s ambition to build a regional hydrogen economy.

Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) new energy arm, SEDC Energy (SEDCE), said they are currently in talks with several potential off-takers for green hydrogen export in solid form.

“SEDCE is working together with technology partner, Hydrexia Holding Ltd, a leading provider of integrated hydrogen solutions, specialising in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and applications.

“The Metal Hydride Hydrogen Storage Technology (MHX) stores the hydrogen molecules via Magnesium Hydride (MgH2), where this addresses transportation bottlenecks by offering intrinsic safety and higher storage density suitable for road, rail and sea,” it said in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile, Hydrexia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alex Fang, said the reusable MHX storage container can safely be transported at ambient pressure and temperature while meeting the highest purity requirements.

“The readiness of our unique MHX has reached to the level of wide commercialisation. We are committed to serving the needs of hydrogen transport and storage in the SEA region,” he said.

SEDCE further said they are currently producing green hydrogen molecules through water electrolysis process using the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser, which uses water and electricity supply from the grid.

“The Darul Hana H2 plant is designed to produce 150 kg of Green H2 daily, with the PEM method chosen at its Darul Hana H2 Plant as the current technology fits the present demand in Sarawak,” it said.

“Hydrogen molecules from the Darul Hana H2 Plant are transported via tube trailers, which later goes through a hydrogenation process where the molecules are absorbed into the MHX unit.

“The unit will later be exported to the off-take destination where the solid molecules are dehydrogenated for further purpose,” it said.

The first MHX unit will be bound for Singapore, marking the first green hydrogen molecules produced in Sarawak to be exported, laying the foundation for a regional ecosystem and supporting the global energy transition.

SEDCE CEO, Robert Hardin, also said that having an operationally ready green hydrogen plant but not utilising its potential is uneconomical.

“With the limited demand we have now, we decided to turn this issue into an opportunity to maximise the plant’s capability,” he said.

SEDCE established in 2019 is developing the Sarawak’s hydrogen value chain.

It is also responsible for developing the purpose-built Rembus Hydrogen Plant to support the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) which is now at the initial construction phase.

The hydrogen produced at this plant will provide the molecules needed for the Autonomous Rail Transit and busses.

SEDCE is also driving major hydrogen projects, such as the Sarawak Hydrogen Hub that consists of both the Japanese consortium, H2ornbill Project, and the South Korean consortium, the H2biscus Project.

Together with all these projects in its portfolio, SEDCE is leading the nation in clean hydrogen initiatives, which is key to decarbonisation towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 for Malaysia.