UK consortium develops first autonomous vessel with 99% reduced emissions

A consortium of companies in the United Kingdom has received a £5.4 million (US$6.46 million) government grant to develop the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered autonomous vessel, along with its associated infrastructure.

The grant is intended to aid the decarbonization of the maritime sector, which accounts for approximately three percent of global emissions.

The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, run by the Department of Transport in the UK, is a real-world demonstration project aimed at delivering clean maritime solutions. The autonomous vessel is being developed by Acua Ocean, a London-based company that specializes in hydrogen-powered unmanned surface vessels.

The vessel has a payload capacity of 4.5 tonnes and travels at four knots, but its fuel capacity gives it an endurance of at least 40 days. The use of hydrogen as fuel results in a 99 percent reduction in emissions. The vessel is entirely autonomous and employs onboard environmental and commercial sensors to make decisions in real-time.

Unitrove, based in Leicester, will provide the necessary infrastructure to develop a green shipping corridor between Aberdeen in Scotland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands, which are six miles off the Scottish mainland. Other members of the consortium include the Port of Aberdeen, the University of Southampton, and organizations focused on maritime and zero-emission transportation.

The project is set to be completed in the autumn of 2024. However, the project’s success will require the implementation of other green initiatives, as hydrogen production in the UK is currently achieved through the use of natural gas, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Efforts are underway to capture the carbon released during the process or use water as a source instead of natural gas.

The development of the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered autonomous vessel is a significant step towards decarbonizing the maritime sector, which has been largely overlooked in the push for cleaner transportation solutions. The vessel’s autonomy and use of hydrogen fuel are major breakthroughs, but the success of the project will require the implementation of other clean energy solutions in the industry.

The development of the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered autonomous vessel could have a significant impact on the decarbonization of the maritime sector, which has been largely ignored in the push for cleaner transportation solutions. The vessel’s autonomy and use of hydrogen fuel are major breakthroughs, and the successful implementation of the project could lead to the development of more clean energy solutions in the industry.

Hydrogen production in the UK is currently done from natural gas, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Efforts are underway to capture the carbon released during the process or by using water as a source instead of natural gas. The success of the project will require the implementation of other clean energy solutions in the industry.