LOHC To Boost Ship Hydrogen Power

Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies was formed 10 years ago with the aim to make hydrogen storage and transport accessible in a safe and easy way by handling hydrogen as oil through liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC).

The concept of using an LOHC is a proven technology and this oil, when loaded with hydrogen, can be handled and stored as diesel/MGO.

Existing diesel oil infrastructure can be used to both carry and store the LOHC, limiting the need to invest or build new infrastructure to reach a zero-carbon solution for shipping.

The LOHC used by Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies is commercially available benzyl toluene – a thermal oil, which is barely flammable, non-explosive and its risk potential is as low as that of diesel fuel.

The carrier oil, which is loaded with hydrogen, can also be stored at ambient conditions as regards its pressure and temperature and has a competitive storage density level.

Moreover, it can be temporarily absorbed to the hydrogen again in a chemical process using stationary LOHC infrastructure such as storage and release equipment further downstream. This is possible several hundred times – and the substance can then be recycled too.

Hydrogenious’ organic carrier overcomes the safety and explosion risks of transporting and using compressed and liquid hydrogen. Challengingly, liquid hydrogen must be stored at -253°C and compressed hydrogen at 350-700 bar pressure.

Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime started in 2021 as a joint venture between Norwegian shipowner Østensjø and the German company Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies.

Hydrogen-based power system 

Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime business development manager Thorbjørn A Hareide says, “We aim to create a complete hydrogen-based power system for ships that consists of an LOHC release unit, that through an endothermic reaction, will release hydrogen from LOHC oil and provide it to a fuel cell that generates electricity available for the ship.”

With the ENOVA-funded project HyNjord, Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime will demonstrate the technology by placing a 100-kW power system on deck of the service offshore vessel Edda Ferd in 2025.

Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime’s second project is part of the EU-funded Ship-Ah2oy project, whereby a 1-MW power system will be installed on Edda Wind’s Edda Breeze in 2027, with the hope the knowledge from the pilot project will allow it to be upscaled.

“This project aims to show safe bunkering and storage on board the ship and will show the potential of zero emissions for shipping through LOHC use,” says Mr Hareide.

Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime is also collaborating with Europe’s largest dry bulk, gas and liquid chemicals inland waterway vessel operator HGK Shipping. Together, these companies signed a memorandum of understanding in May, planning to develop a demonstration vessel by 2028. The barge will be propelled with the integrated LOHC/fuel-cell power system. The partners have already launched the concept phase.

Besides SOVs and barges, Hydrogenious LOHC/fuel-cell power system could also suit many vessel types including container ships, cruise ships and ferries.