Preparing for a global hydrogen market
Ocean Hyway Cluster is this week engaged in meetings, seminar and the large FC EXPO-fair in Tokyo. It is encouraging to experience that major players around the globe are preparing for a future where hydrogen will play a significant role as energy carrier.
In December 2020 Kawasaki Heavy Industries launched their liquid hydrogen pilot carrier for transporting hydrogen from Australia to Japan. These days the tanks are mounted into the vessel. The capacity will be 1 250 m3 liquid hydrogen. The vessel will start operating late 2020. Two larger vessels, each with capacity of 160 000 m3 will be built for operation in 2030.
Hydrogen is already being imported to Japan. Brunei delivers 4,7 metric tons shipments of hydrogen to Japan, the first delivery in December 2019. The hydrogen is made from LNG and is repackaged in liquid from in methylcyclohexane. The hydrogen can then be transported over long distances using conventional commercial shipping. Every week five ISO tank containers carrying 20 000 litres of methylcyclohexane is shipped to Japan. A total of 210 metric tonnes of hydrogen would be supplied from Brunei to Japan in 2020.
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems have developed large commercial gas generators for production of electric energy from hydrogen. These generators can deliver up to 818 MW each and will be used for stationary electric energy supply. One turbine will annually need the same amount of hydrogen as 2 million cars. Electric energy production from hydrogen gas turbines can be a significant part of future hydrogen demand.
A numbers of players work to develop the most efficient methods for use of ammonia for deep sea shipping. Ammonia is a hydrogen carrier and can possibly be used both in gas turbines and combustion engines. Ammonia is already being produced in large quantities around the world and is a well-known commodity which is easy to transport.
Intercontinental transport of hydrogen is a major topic for the future. An introductory meeting in Japan was held between NEDO, SINTEF and Ocean Hyway Cluster. NEDO is the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization and is Japan's largest public management organization promoting research and development as well as deployment of industrial, energy and environmental technologies. There is now an ongoing dialogue on establishing joint research activities focusing on life cycle assessment on different methods of long distance and high-volume transport of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers. SINTEF will play a major role from the Norwegian side and Ocean Hyway Cluster will contribute with connection to the Norwegian maritime industry.
The Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway Tokyo and Research Council of Norway are doing a great job connecting Norwegian hydrogen players to relevant businesses and partners in Japan.