H2 Green Steel (H2GS) and Swedish shipping company Gotland Company have joined forces in an agreement to investigate the establishment of a production plant capable of supplying a portion of Gotland Company’s fleet with green hydrogen fuel.
This collaboration aims to address the pressing need for emissions reduction in the global shipping industry, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
As the industry seeks various solutions to meet climate goals, the use of green hydrogen gas as a fuel is gaining traction. H2GS, known for operating one of the world’s largest electrolyzers with a capacity exceeding 700 MW in Boden, northern Sweden, is leveraging its expertise to explore the application of green hydrogen in the shipping sector. The company’s strategic focus on reducing emissions in hard-to-decarbonize industries aligns with its foray into green fuels for shipping.
In partnership with Gotland Company, a company specializing in the development, chartering, and operation of passenger ferries, H2GS will conduct a comprehensive technical and economic feasibility study. The study aims to evaluate the viability of supplying fossil-free fuel, in the form of green hydrogen, to power Gotland Company’s future ships.
Gotland Company is currently developing the Horizon series, which consists of two new ships designed to operate on hydrogen gas. The goal is to have at least one ship operational by 2030, powered by gas turbines capable of utilizing multiple fossil-free fuels. To run the traffic between Gotland and the mainland entirely on hydrogen gas, an estimated 20,000 tonnes of hydrogen gas will be required annually.
Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotland Company, emphasizes the Horizon series as the company’s most ambitious initiative to reduce the shipping industry’s carbon footprint. By operating the ships on 100 percent hydrogen gas, the aim is to achieve climate-neutral service with water as the primary emission. Given the substantial demand for hydrogen gas, the development of production and infrastructure is crucial to realizing these climate goals.
Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, Head of Hydrogen Business at H2 Green Steel, highlights the significance of collaborating with Gotland Company to expand their expertise in large-scale hydrogen production beyond the iron and steel sector. The partnership with a Swedish company that shares their commitment to climate change and emission reduction in the maritime ecosystem surrounding Sweden further strengthens the alliance.
The feasibility study represents the initial phase towards supplying hydrogen as fuel for Gotland Company’s ships operating between Gotland and mainland Sweden. This study will identify suitable locations for hydrogen production and the infrastructure required to transport the fuel to the harbors. The estimated electrolyzer capacity necessary for this endeavor is around 300 MW.
