(Claremont, WA / Australia) – Australia's Global Energy Ventures Ltd (GEV) has started developing a pilot ship for the transport of compressed hydrogen (C-H2). The loading capacity is 430 tons. For now, this is “an ideal size to meet the requirements of the currently emerging H2 shipping industry” and the project ensures “that we establish ourselves in the sea transport of green hydrogen,” says GEV managing director Martin Carolan.
The design envisages two large tanks with a diameter of twelve meters, which are housed in the fuselage and store hydrogen at ambient temperature with an operating pressure of 250 bar. The problem with storing hydrogen in steel tanks is that the molecular structures can penetrate the steel, which leads to embrittlement over time. According to GEV, this can be prevented by lining with stainless steel, for example.
Multi-walled tanks to prevent steel from becoming brittle
Furthermore, the tanks would be surrounded not just by a single layer, but by several layers of high-strength steel. While the wall thickness of a single-layer tank of this size is beyond the normal scope of steel production, the individual thinner steel layers with the corresponding mechanical properties could be produced economically and shaped at the shipyard. If there is a crack due to material fatigue despite the inner lining, it cannot grow beyond the layer in which it originated. According to the company, this process could also be used to economically produce a large tank with safety reserves.
The goal is to scale the demonstration object to a transport capacity of 2.000 tons, corresponding to around 23 million cubic meters. The larger ship is designed for two tanks with a diameter of 20 meters. GEV received the general approval for this (Approval in Principle, AIP) in March of this year from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a globally active company that assesses maritime products such as ships, oil platforms and components with regard to their practical suitability and compliance with all technical guidelines and building regulations are examined - a kind of “ship TÜV”, but with more far-reaching tasks and powers. The development studies for the 2.000-ton ship have proven that large C-H2 ships on a commercial scale are possible, explains GEV.
Commissioning by the middle of the decade
The schedule is ambitious. After receiving an AIP for the 2.000-ton tanker in the first quarter, the company hopes to receive the same approval for the 430-ton pilot project in the third quarter of this year. The more extensive basic type approval should then take place next year and construction should begin at the beginning of 2023. The smaller ship is scheduled to enter service in the mid-20s, and the 2.000-ton transporter in the second half of the decade.
GEV wants to use hydrogen from the storage facilities for their electric drives and thus achieve “zero carbon” transport. A preliminary agreement (memorandum of understanding) was reached with the Canadian fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems Inc. to develop a ship propulsion system in February. Accordingly, the power required for the smaller ship is expected to be less than ten megawatts (MW), and the propulsion power of the large tanker is estimated to be around 26 megawatts. 
Such C-H2 ship solutions are ideal for exporting hydrogen over medium distances, for example from Australia to the Asia-Pacific region, explains Global Energy Ventures after relevant market studies. In addition to transport, the company's business model also includes the production and storage of green hydrogen.
GEV wants to go to Europe with German engineers
Just a few days ago, at the end of May, GEV and the German company ILF Beratende Ingenieure GmbH (ILF Consulting Engineers), part of the Innsbruck-based ILF Group Holding GmbH, announced that they had signed a declaration of intent to develop green hydrogen projects in Europe and Australia also includes the transport of C-H2. Specializing in large energy, industrial and infrastructure projects, ILF's expertise covers the hydrogen value chain from renewable energy to water supply to hydrogen production, transport and storage, and offers solutions for a wide range of hydrogen-related projects.
This gives GEV access to the rapidly developing hydrogen economy in Europe, the company said. The business partners want to immediately begin testing for both onshore and offshore applications of green hydrogen projects that are suitable for a C-H2 ship solution.
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Rendering: The planned hydrogen transporters have two separate tanks. / © GEV
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Ballard Power is to develop the fuel cell drive. / © GEV
