Shell and GTT to jointly develop liquid hydrogen transport network

The duo intends to develop liquid hydrogen (LH2) transportation technologies that align with Shell’s strategy to scale a safe hydrogen supply network.

PHOTO: The Suiso Frontier, the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier. HySTRA

Energy giant Shell and French engineering company GTT have agreed to cooperate in the development of a hydrogen transport network. They intend to draw on GTT’s already established preliminary designs for LH2 carriers and LH2 cargo containment systems for mid-size LH2 carriers.

The ability to transport large volumes of liquefied hydrogen at temperatures below -250°C is the biggest obstacle in establishing a reliable and economical supply chain, says GTT.

Shell believes that hydrogen will play a major role in its efforts towards becoming a net zero-carbon energy supplier by 2050, says Carl Henrickson, Shell's general manager of Shipping & Maritime Technology, Innovation & Digitalisation.

In April last year, the company announced plans to demonstrate the use of hydrogen cells in Singapore.

Last month, Australia became the first nation to export LH2 after the Suiso Frontier departed with 1,250 cbm of LH2 for Kobe, Japan.