NTU scientists find way to convert plastic waste into low-carbon hydrogen fuel
Author: Cheryln Tan
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University have found a way to convert plastic waste into low-carbon hydrogen, which is considered a cleaner fuel than natural gas. The discovery, which could power vehicles and contribute to the power grid in as soon as three years, comes as the Republic looks to adopt hydrogen as an alternative fuel, as it does not produce carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. To help Singapore bring down power sector emissions to net zero by 2050, the Energy Market Authority's Energy 2050 Committee report had also suggested developing infrastructure suitable for clean-burning hydrogen to be used as a fuel. The latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report found that greenhouse gas emissions - such as CO2 - need to peak before 2025 and be reduced by 43 per cent by 2030 to limit the impacts of dangerous climate change. Plastic waste, which contains contaminated food packaging, styrofoam and plastic bags, can be challenging to recycle, meaning that they are currently incinerated or buried in landfills.