C-Job Naval Architects, headquartered in the Netherlands, has revealed a proposal for a totally new class of liquid hydrogen tankers. The design, which was created in collaboration with LH2 Europe, aims to revolutionize the renewable energy market by providing a critical component in the realization of a green end-to-end liquid hydrogen supply chain.
LH2 Europe will create green hydrogen using Scotland’s plentiful renewable power and sell it at a cost comparable with diesel. The liquid hydrogen will be transported to ports in Germany by the new tanker. As demand grows, the strategic aim is to expand supplies to additional markets.
“Hydrogen will be critical to the energy future. It is up to us to choose how soon we can do this. LH2 Europe’s goal is to establish a fully operational liquid hydrogen supply chain by 2027, according to Dr. Peter Wells, the company’s CEO. “We expect to supply 100 tons of green hydrogen per day (t/d) at first, then ramp up to 300 t/d within three years, depending on demand.”
“This tanker design is an important step in laying the groundwork for a sustainable energy future.” Current vessels are not capable of delivering hydrogen at the scale that will be necessary to fulfill market demands,” he says.
The first design is for a 141-meter-long liquid hydrogen tanker with a 37,500-cubic-meter storage capacity.
“Liquid hydrogen presents the unique design and technical problems,” explains Job Volwater, CCO of C-Job. “By contrast, LNG tankers employ ballast water to compensate for weight loss after delivery in order to maintain adequate draft. Because liquid hydrogen has a large volume yet is 20 times lighter than LNG, it necessitated a one-of-a-kind solution. We designed a trapezium-shaped hull that provides an adequate deck area to accommodate the tanks without the need for ballast.
“For many years, we at C-Job have been exploring alternative renewable fuels, and we are thrilled to collaborate with LH2 Europe to put our expertise and experience to use.” Not just to achieve a greener marine business, but also to promote renewable energy throughout Europe.”
The vessel will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and will have three liquid hydrogen storage tanks with a combined capacity of 37,500 cubic meters, enough to refill 400,000 medium-sized hydrogen automobiles or 20,000 heavy trucks. The tanks will have a substantially lower boil-off rate than those utilized in the marine sector today. The remaining boil off will be caught and used directly in the hydrogen fuel cells, which will provide electricity to the vessel’s propulsion systems while emitting just water. During its operations, the vessel will emit zero greenhouse gases.
Six months before the first hydrogen delivery in 2027, the ship is projected to be ready and commissioned.
