The National University of Singapore (NUS) has entered into a Master Research Collaboration Agreement with Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd (Keppel Infrastructure), a Singapore-based energy solution provider where Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd. is a major shareholder, aimed at bolstering the corporation’s low-carbon energy innovation and translational research and development of solutions in smart grid, renewables and clean energy, as well as decarbonisation technologies.
As part of the collaboration, the two will leverage the NUS Kent Ridge campus for the “Keppel Infrastructure-NUS Low Carbon Living Laboratory” by creating, test-bedding, and scaling up the deployment of commercially viable innovations in distributed energy management, integration of solar photovoltaics (PV), thermal energy storage, electrical microgrids, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trials.
This partnership will also provide educational and training opportunities for NUS students, as well as opportunities for open collaboration with other ecosystem players such as start-ups, SMEs and researchers.
To jumpstart this strategic collaboration, the two parties have jointly identified technologically proven innovations for test-bedding, demonstration and adaptation in live environments and system/subsystem integration across various technologies for data collection, analysis and performance validation with the intent to accelerate commercial applications. The selected projects are:
- Smart AC/DC hybrid microgrid: This project will ease the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources, such as solar PV and EV charging with V2G capabilities into the existing AC grid without disruption to the main power grid. The hybrid microgrid acts as a plug-in for the AC grid and will increase the flexibility of diversified power interconnection, leading to greater grid reliability and efficiency.
- Novel EV charging strategies: This project will deploy smart EV charging algorithms that will balance the needs and constraints of the existing electrical network, as well as the charging demand and cost to EV owners. This will accelerate the emerging readiness of V2G technology.
- Innovative District cooling systems (DCS) for buildings integrated with thermal energy storage using proprietary phase change materials as an energy storage medium, outdoor cooling technology and intelligent process optimisation. This project will provide next-generation district cooling solutions for a sustainable urban district, with substantial energy and space savings, as well as environmental benefits such as the reduction of the heat island effect.
- Experimentation and laboratory proof-of-concept on enhanced seawater desalination pre-treatment technology for carbon dioxide sequestration and scalant removal. This project will be followed by a potential demonstration at one of the desalination plants operated by the corporation.
The CEO of the corporation stated that the company is redoubling its efforts in sustainability-linked innovation and technology development to sharpen Keppel Infrastructure’s competitive advantage in the low-carbon economy, and to partner and add value to industries and customers in their green transition.
To this end, the firm is forging a partnership with NUS to accelerate the commercial deployment of innovative energy technologies, leveraging digitalisation and decentralisation for speed and scale.
The NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology) noted that the university looks forward to harnessing its capabilities in energy and sustainability research in this collaboration with the corporation to co-create commercially viable solutions for a smooth green transition. The NUS Kent Ridge campus will serve as a vibrant living laboratory, where innovative solutions are tested in a realistic operational environment before they are deployed on a larger scale. These technological capabilities will in turn help enhance the climate resilience of the university’s campuses.
In addition, the two will explore collaboration in other energy and sustainability-related areas, such as decarbonisation of industrial emissions, innovative solar projects, as well as technologies and applications of carbon capture, including the use of nature-based solutions.
