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New Design Makes Liquefied Hydrogen Bunker Vessels a Reality
In response to the global ambition of reducing the environmental footprint from global ship transport, Moss Maritime, in cooperation with Equinor, Wilhelmsen and DNV-GL, has developed a design for a Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) bunker vessel. The vessel design comes at a time when hydrogen is finally developing into a viable solution for the larger market.
The future large scale use of hydrogen in both maritime and land-based industry will require vessels tailored for transportation and bunkering of liquefied hydrogen. The project, sponsored by Innovation Norway, was launched with the objective to clarify challenges and find solutions for storage and handling of this demanding cargo and fuel on a vessel.
“Moss Maritime has utilized its long-standing experience from design of Moss LNG carriers in the development of the LH2 bunker vessel, where liquefied hydrogen at a temperature of -253 °C will offer advantages over pressurized hydrogen gas in relation to transportation costs. We are ready to support the ship industry in implementing solutions for liquefied hydrogen for future projects”, says Tor Skogan, Vice President for LNG of Moss Maritime.
The LH2 bunker vessel has cargo capacity of 9000 m³, with a cargo containment system designed to maximize insulation performance and meet the most stringent safety requirements. The vessel has been developed to provide liquefied hydrogen bunkering services to merchant ships, in addition to open sea transport. “Equinor believes hydrogen may represent an attractive energy solution for the sectors that are hard to decarbonize and currently outside the scope of renewable solutions like batteries. Long haul maritime shipping is one of these and an important milestone has been passed by introducing a logistical solution for transport of liquefied hydrogen by the sea”, says Steinar Eikaas, Vice President for Low Carbon Solutions in Equinor.
Håkon Lenz, Vice President for Europe and Americas of Wilhelmsen Ship Management, adds: “We see hydrogen as a possible fuel for the future. The commercial feasibility of such a vessel is depending on the overall hydrogen market development. Once market signals show that there is a need for big scale liquefied hydrogen, we and our partners are ready to take this design to the next level. By initiating and participating in this project we prepare ourselves for meeting the demand of our customers in the years to come, and Wilhelmsen will always seek opportunities in new technology to enable sustainable global trade”.
HOW HYDROGEN WORKS ON A SHIP
Hydrogen is the energy carrier. It comes in either pressurized or liquid form. We will use liquid hydrogen, at a temperature of 20 degrees Kelvin, or minus 253 degrees Celsius, stored in insulated aluminum tanks. By feeding air and hydrogen into a catalytic reactor called fuel cell, we transform the energy of the hydrogen into electricity that will be used for propulsion, maneuvering and on-board systems. The only discharge from the process is pure water (H2O). There is no carbon involved in the process, hence no CO2.
