NTU launches $8 million facility to develop greener maritime energy solutions

AsiaOne 2 Nov 15;

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has launched Southeast Asia's first advanced maritime energy test facility that aims to be a platform for scientists and engineers to develop innovative, eco-friendly maritime technologies.

With more stringent regulations to be imposed on ship emissions and energy efficiency standards in the coming years, the new Maritime Energy Test Bed will help the maritime industry by producing cleaner and more sustainable maritime energy solutions, according to a media statement from the university.

These include devices that curb harmful ship emissions and alternative energy sources such as biodiesels, a form of renewable, clean-burning diesel. The solutions are aimed at saving costs and gaining competitive advantages. This would enhance the reputation of maritime companies which champion sustainable technologies.

The $8 million facility will also serve as a learning platform for polytechnic students, undergraduates, and PhD candidates to get hands-on experience in the technologies and innovations.

It was officially opened today by Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Mr Tan said: "The fruition of the Maritime Energy Test Bed represents a successful collaboration between the research sector and the industry, and is a timely development as the maritime sector looks to green and sustainable technologies to save on costs, mitigate the effects of climate change and address growing environmental regulations."

Leading NTU's efforts will be the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N) and Maritime Institute at NTU (MI@NTU).

NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President for Research, Professor Lam Khin Yong, said: "The maritime industry is a crucial economic pillar carrying about 90 per cent of the world's trade. This new facility puts NTU at the forefront of global maritime energy research, developing sustainable maritime energy solutions and raising Singapore's maritime R&D capabilities and expertise."

The Maritime Energy Test Bed is jointly funded by NTU and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI). SMI will contribute $4.7 million over the next 10 years, while NTU will provide $3.4 million, with support from other maritime leaders such as ClassNK.

Shipping has been recognised as the most fuel-efficient mode of freight transportation. However, ships usually use low-quality fuel, especially heavy fuel oil, which give off harmful atmospheric pollutants, including sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and other particulates.

Moving into a new era of green shipping, the Maritime Energy Test Bed at NTU will conduct research and development in areas such as alternative sources of energy or clean fuels, fuel additives to increase energy efficiency, and technologies for cleaner emissions.

The facility will be equipped with a fully-fledged 1.5 megawatt diesel ship engine, which can run on most of the conventional liquid fuel types for energy research such as biodiesel, gas-to-liquid, and synthetic diesel. It will also install advanced sensors and monitoring devices to facilitate research innovation in energy storage, noise pollution, and waste heat recovery.

The facility will also serve as a training platform for engineers upgrading their skills for the green maritime industry. It is also open to polytechnic students, undergraduates and even PhD candidates.

Prof Lam said, "As Singapore is primarily a global trade hub, education and training are important aspects of the new Maritime Energy Test Bed at NTU. With highly skilled manpower, Singapore will be able to attract overseas investments to the nation's maritime industry."


NTU launches Southeast Asia's first maritime energy test bed
The S$8 million research facility aims to be a platform for scientists and engineers to develop innovative eco-friendly maritime technologies.
Channel NewsAsia 2 Nov 15;

SINGAPORE: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Monday (Nov 2) launched Southeast Asia’s first-of-its-kind advanced maritime energy test facility.

The S$8 million research facility aims to be a platform for scientists and engineers to develop innovative eco-friendly maritime technologies, such as scrubbers and alternative energy sources. Scrubbers are devices that curb harmful ship emissions.

Such clean energy solutions are aimed at delivering cost savings and competitive advantages, as well as enhance the reputation of maritime companies for championing sustainable technologies.

For example, shipping may be recognised as the most fuel efficient mode of freight transportation, but it is also known to use fuel which emits harmful atmospheric pollutants. The facility, called the Maritime Energy Test Bed, will conduct research and development in areas such as alternative sources of energy, fuel additives to increase energy efficiency and technologies for cleaner emissions.

To achieve this, the 1,500 square metre facility comes equipped with a 1.5 megawatt diesel ship engine, which can run on most of the conventional liquid fuel types for energy research. It will also be installed with advanced sensors and monitoring devices to facilitate research in energy storage, noise pollution and waste heat recovery.

“The fruition of the Maritime Energy Test Bed represents a successful collaboration between the research sector and the industry, and is a timely development as the maritime sector looks to green and sustainable technologies to save on costs, mitigate the effects of climate change and address growing environmental regulations,” said Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

The facility will also be an educational platform for polytechnic students, undergraduates and PhD candidates to learn and get hands-on experience. Engineers can also train there to learn skills for the green maritime industry.

The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) will contribute S$4.7 million over the next 10 years to fund the facility, while NTU will provide S$3.4 million with support from other maritime leaders such as ClassNK.

“As Singapore is primarily a global trade hub, education and training are important aspects of the new Maritime Energy Test Bed at NTU,” said NTU Chief of Staff and Vice President for Research, Professor Lam Khin Yong. “With highly skilled manpower, Singapore will be able to attract overseas investments to the nation’s maritime industry.”

- CNA/ek


$8m facility to boost green maritime energy options
Samantha Goh, The Straits Times AsiaOne 3 Nov 15;

Research into sustainable maritime technology was given a boost here yesterday with the launch of a new $8 million maritime energy test bed at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

While shipping has been recognised as the most fuel-efficient way to transport freight, ships typically use low-quality fuel, especially heavy fuel oil, which emits pollutants such as sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide.

The new facility, the first of its kind in South-east Asia, will do research and try to develop alternative sources of energy or clean fuels, fuel additives to raise energy efficiency, and technologies for cleaner emissions. This includes advanced filters, called scrubbers, which are used to reduce pollutants from exhaust gas.

The facility will also serve as a training platform for polytechnic students, undergraduates and PhD candidates. Students from Singapore Polytechnic's marine cadet programme, for example, will attend internships at the facility and go on training visits.

The facility is funded by NTU and the Singapore Maritime Institute, and opened with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

MPA chief executive Andrew Tan said the collaboration was timely as the maritime sector needed green and sustainable technologies to save on costs, mitigate the effects of climate change and address stricter environmental regulations.

This maritime energy test bed also adds to the NTU's list of green initiatives, including the building of the region's first hybrid power grid to integrate multiple renewable energy sources.

The 1,500 sq m maritime facility is designed to mimic the operations of a vessel, which Professor Chan Siew Hwa, co-director of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU, says is crucial to ensuring that research ideas born in the laboratory are applicable to real-life situations. It comes equipped with a 1.5MW diesel ship engine which can run on most conventional liquid fuel types for energy research, including biodiesel, liquefied nitrogen gas and synthetic diesel.

The facility will also be installed with advanced sensors to track information on energy storage, noise pollution and waste heat recovery.

Prof Chan noted that current research into clean energy for use in the maritime industry is usually done with an automotive engine, which runs very differently from a ship engine.

"When you put the equipment developed for emission control on a real (ship) engine, it may not work or may perform badly. So we wanted to fill that gap."


Marine sector 'must reinvent to survive'
Jacqueline Woo, The Straits Times AsiaOne 4 Nov 15;

The offshore and marine industry has to reinvent itself in order to ride out the downturn, said Economic Development Board (EDB) chairman Beh Swan Gin yesterday.

He noted that companies were facing difficult times, and added: "The sector is a significant contributor to our economy, providing good jobs for Singaporeans, but the continued transformation of the industry is critical for its long-term success."

He also said the EDB will give its "full support" to investments that help yards make more productive use of its resources and assets.

Dr Beh was speaking at the opening of Sembcorp Marine's (Semb-Marine) steel structure fabrication workshop in Tuas, the largest of its kind in South-east Asia.

He pointed to the facility, which is also the first automated hull shop in the region, as an example of how companies can stay competitive amid the oil price slump.

SembMarine chairman Mohd Hassan Marican said the 1.3 million sq ft workshop, comprising five production bays, operates on a streamlined process that halves the number of man-hours and production time previously required for every tonne of steel fabricated.

It also features a fully automated panel production line with capabilities that can "reduce manpower requirement while delivering high- quality precision and efficiency".

The workshop is part of an ongoing 35ha development at SembMarine's Tuas Boulevard Yard, which will add three more dry docks to its four existing ones when completed in 2017.

"(It) will enable Sembcorp Marine to scale up our overall production capacities and capabilities to better serve our customers," said Mr Mohd Hassan Marican.

SembMarine president and chief executive Wong Weng Sun added in a statement that the project is part of the company's efforts to turn the yard into "a high-tech production hub that underpins Semb-corp Marine's ability to compete on value and scale".

"This new facility will integrate with all other capabilities in our flagship Tuas Boulevard Yard and allow us to more effectively offer customers a one-stop shop for offshore and marine engineering solutions," he said.

SembMarine announced in July that it was reorganising its businesses into a single brand and company.

It now focuses on four key areas: rigs and floaters, repairs and upgrades, offshore platforms and specialised shipbuilding.

The rig-builder has been faced with headwinds amid a global oil glut and slowing demand, posting a 75.7 per cent drop in net profit for the three months to Sept 30.

While the firm has previously acknowledged that the immediate operating environment in the offshore rig-building industry remains "very challenging", it has also said that its investments in new capabilities and facilities will help ensure sustainable returns.