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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP) have jointly launched a new maritime fuel cell research initiative today, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by MPA Chief Executive Mr Lam Yi Young and TP Principal & CEO Mr Boo Kheng Hua.

The main aim of the MOU is to seed and encourage projects that will yield improvements and breakthroughs in the use of fuel cell and other technologies applicable to maritime industry. The projects will focus on research, development, test-bedding and eventual commercialization of fuel cell applications and other technologies for the maritime industry.

Co-funded by MPA's Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund and TP, research grants of up to $4 million and $1 million will be contributed by MPA and TP respectively over a three-year period. MPA and TP will also work towards securing industry co-funding of up to $1 million.

The so called "Fuel Cell Community" was established in March 2007 in TP to facilitate the adoption, commercialisation and support of fuel cell applications. TP's Clean Energy Centre (CEC) has become the focal point for fuel cell technology applications and solutions in Singapore. The centre continually seeks partnerships and collaborations with the academia, government and industry partners to research and develop industrial and commercially viable solutions and technologies.

Two research projects have been identified under the MOU. The first project is to testbed fuel cell as auxiliary power in vessels, and the second is to develop an automated process of supplying continuous clean power to underwater systems and devices, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), submerged acoustic devices and underwater data logging instruments for processes like underwater surveys, measurement of currents and sedimentation.

Lam Yi Young said: "Through MPA's MINT fund, we have been actively working with institutes of higher learning to promote maritime R&D. We are glad to expand our collaboration to include Temasek Polytechnic with the inking of the MOU today. It is a significant agreement in marking MPA and TP's joint efforts to promote greener shipping in Singapore."

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Boo Kheng Hua said, "Educational institutions today are the seed-beds of innovation where new technological solutions are devised to solve real problems in the world. As the host of the fuel cell community in Singapore, TP will play a pivotal role in Singapore's push to becoming a major clean energy hub in the region. In this respect, TP is delighted with this alliance with MPA and the opportunity to embark on research and development in fuel cell applications and other technologies related particularly to the maritime industry".