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DEMONSTRATING LIQUID HYDROGEN FOR THE MARITIME SECTOR

Project description

A step closer to the first liquid hydrogen vessel

Hydrogen and fuel cells have the potential to propel vessels in a zero-emission fashion. The EU-funded HyShip project plans to build a cargo vessel for commercial operation running on liquid hydrogen, establish a viable liquid hydrogen supply chain and a bunkering platform. The vessel will run on a 1 MWh battery pack and 3 MW proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Most liquid hydrogen vessels are in the planning stage, and one of them is expected to begin operations in September 2021. With no full-scale hydrogen-fuelled vessels currently in operation, HyShip will take steps towards scalable operations.

Objective

The HyShip project addresses one of the key challenges in the European waterborne transport sector: demonstrating the feasibility of liquid hydrogen (LH2) as a zero-emission fuel for short-sea shipping. Its overarching goal is to accelerate the transition toward hydrogen-powered vessels by developing, validating, and operating large-scale hydrogen fuel systems in real-world maritime operations.

The project has two primary aims:

Technology Demonstration: Develop and validate efficient, scalable hydrogen propulsion systems, including a 3.2 MW proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system and a 17-ton liquid hydrogen storage solution. These systems will be installed and operated on a container ship, which will be in full commercial service for 18 months. The demonstration also includes the engineering, procurement, and operation of a dedicated liquid hydrogen bunkering facility to supply the vessels with fuel.

System Integration: Embed the ship demonstration into a larger socio-technical framework, including viable business models, supportive policy models, LH2 supply chains, and bunkering infrastructure, enabling the shipping sector to transition effectively to liquid hydrogen.

To achieve these aims, the project will deliver:

An advanced energy management system for optimizing onboard operations, ensuring safety and reducing operating costs.

Efficient ship design methods that lower costs and shorten timelines for developing complex vessels with novel fuel and bunkering systems.

Detailed engineering of onboard LH2 systems and the associated bunkering facilities in ports.

Hull and propulsion designs targeting a 40% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional ships of similar size and type.

Risk-based design and operational strategies to meet class and flag approvals, contributing to the development of international safety regulations for hydrogen-powered ships.

A business ecosystem blueprint for cost-efficient LH2-powered shortsea shipping in Europe, including a deployment timeline.

A real-world demonstration of more than 3,000 operational hours in total on the Oslo–Rotterdam route, including port manoeuvring and bunkering operations.

Replication strategies for applying LH2 solutions to other ship types and maritime segments.

The demonstration vessel will primarily carry cargo, but will also be able to transport liquid hydrogen as cargo on deck. Nav Tech is responsible for shipbuilding, LH2 Shipping for the development and operation of the bunkering infrastructure, and Smaskip for ship operations. The vessels will be capable of operating 100% emission-free when using liquid hydrogen powered Fuel Cells in combination with batteries.

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Topic(s)

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IA - Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-JTI-FCH-2020-1

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Coordinator

MARITIME CLEANTECH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 682 997,00
Address
MEATJONNSVEGEN 74
5412 Stord
Norway

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Region
Norge Vestlandet Vestland
Activity type
Other
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 682 997,00

Participants (21)

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