The Week in Alternative Fuels
Here are some key developments in alternative bunker fuels from the past week.
PHOTO: Model of MOL's vessel designed as a hydrogen-producing plant. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
It was all about novelty in the alternative fuel segment in the first week of the new year. While some companies have embarked on studies into innovative concepts, others presented fresh ideas for how to decarbonise future shipping emissions.
Dutch terminal company Vopak and Germany-based Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies aim to develop hydrogen supply chains using liquid organic hydrogen carrier technology. Given the challenges and high costs associated with storing hydrogen, this technology may prove to be a hassle-free way to contain and handle green hydrogen and reduce costs.
Danish nuclear power startup Seaborg Technologies and Samsung Heavy Industries have received an approval from the American Bureau of Shipping for a floating nuclear power plant concept, which uses compact molten salt reactors to create hydrogen and ammonia. This could be a game-changer for maritime decarbonisation considering the urgency of expanding green bunker fuel production infrastructure.
A study by DNV and the Responsible Shipping Initiative (RSI) outlined the cleanest ways to replace aging dry bulk fleets with newbuilds running on green fuels in the Baltic Sea and North Sea. Market uncertainty is a key barrier to broader uptake of alternative fuels among shipowners these days, said Hannes von Knorring, principal consultant at DNV Maritime.
A floating storage and regasification barge (FSRB) for ammonia developed by Japan's NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard and IHI Corporation has now been approved in principle by ClassNK. As a floating offshore facility that can be moved around and off coasts, the FSRB could revolutionise ammonia storage and fuel handling infrastructure.
Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K Lines will start building a "mobile hydrogen plant" next year. It will be an autonomous, unmanned and green vessel, and produce green hydrogen on board for offshore supply.
By Konica Bhatt
Here is our selection of five top alternative fuels stories from this week:
Vopak, Hydrogenious LOHC partner to build hydrogen supply chains
Samsung Heavy Industries receives ABS nod for floating offshore nuclear power plant concept
DNV and RSI launch green fleet renewal study
ClassNK gives green light to Japanese trio’s ammonia FSRB concept
MOL to begin construction of a novel green hydrogen-generating vessel in 2024
