In 1981, Kawasaki Heavy Industries made history by being the first company to manufacture a methane tanker. Now, over 40 years later, the Japanese conglomerate is once again breaking new ground with the launch of the Suiso Frontier, the world’s first large-scale hydrogen transport ship.
Over the past four decades, Kawasaki Heavy Industries has sold more than 700 methane tankers to 44 countries, supplying a total of 372.3 million tons of natural gas, with China, Japan, and South Korea being the primary recipients. However, with the global push for decarbonization, the focus has shifted to clean energy sources, such as hydrogen.
The European Union’s plans to reduce its reliance on Russian gas and the global push for cleaner energy have drawn attention to Kawasaki’s new creation. In fact, the Energy Commissioner of the EU, Kadri Simson, and other G-7 officials visited the Suiso Frontier during their recent meeting in Sapporo.
The Suiso Frontier has the capacity to transport approximately 1,250 cubic meters of liquefied hydrogen gas (LHG), which is equivalent to the amount of hydrogen consumed by 300 fuel cell vehicles daily. Its launch is expected to facilitate the transportation of hydrogen produced in countries with abundant natural resources to those with a higher demand, enabling the global supply chain for LHG to be established.
The Suiso Frontier measures 116 meters in length and 19 meters in width, and its design has been optimized to minimize boil-off gas and maintain the stability of the cargo during transportation. The ship uses Kawasaki’s proprietary technology, which includes an insulated hydrogen storage tank and a hydrogen vaporization system that can convert the liquefied hydrogen into gas at room temperature.
The Suiso Frontier has the potential to revolutionize the way in which hydrogen is transported, creating a viable supply chain for LHG on a global scale. It could also accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a clean energy source, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Despite its potential, the Suiso Frontier is not without its challenges. One significant issue is the high cost of producing and transporting hydrogen, which could make it a less competitive energy source compared to fossil fuels. Additionally, the technology for producing and transporting LHG is still in its early stages and will require further development and investment to become a viable solution.
The launch of the Suiso Frontier marks a significant milestone in the transportation of clean energy. Kawasaki Heavy Industries has once again demonstrated its engineering prowess by creating a ship that has the potential to facilitate the establishment of a global LHG supply chain. While there are challenges that must be addressed, the potential benefits of LHG as a clean energy source cannot be ignored.
