Sembcorp taps IHI Corporation, GE Vernova for potential retrofitting of its Sakra power plant

The SG-based company wants to retrofit its power plant with ammonia-firing capabilities.

Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) has inked a non-binding  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IHI Corporation (IHI) and GE Vernova’s Gas Power business to jointly explore the potential retrofitting of Sembcorp’s Sakra power plant in Singapore with ammonia-firing capabilities.

Sembcorp said the project will help them generate low-carbon energy from its existing power plant assets and support Singapore’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and decarbonise the power sector. 

The company also expects the project to bolster industry confidence in the development of an ammonia value chain in Singapore. 

The partnership is an extension of an earlier MOU between Sembcorp and IHI in 2022 to explore decarbonisation pathways for the power and industrial sector, in particular, ammonia direct combustion systems. 

The partnership also builds upon a separate cooperation between IHI and GE Vernova on developing a retrofittable, 100% ammonia-capable combustion system compatible with specific GE Vernova turbine models.