HGK Shipping and the Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the beginning of May. The goal is to develop a scalable solution to make H₂ available as a source of energy on a large scale. The technology is based on H₂, which is bound in a liquid carrier liquid organic H₂ carrier (LOHC). The two partners are planning to develop a demonstration vessel by 2028 and then put it into service; it will be possible to propel the ship with a fuel cell, which is fed with energy from the H₂ released from the LOHC.

The HyBarge project is due to be initiated in 2024. The cooperation partners have already launched the concept phase. This will not only involve experts from HGK Shipping, but also concept developers from Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies. The latter are gaining important experience about the emission-free use of the LOHC technology in shipping, which they will then transfer to inland waterway shipping as part of the project.

Green H₂ is viewed as the key element to cover the urgent and vital task of decarbonizing shipping. It is conceivable in a further stage that LOHC transport operations could be tested and promoted on inland waterways using the demonstration vessel, although this does not form part of the MoU. The demonstrator therefore has the potential to map the complete value-added chain, ranging from producing the LOHC to using the drive technology and transporting goods and even ensuring that potential customers can use the vessel.

Conventional solutions to store and transport H₂ consume vast amounts of energy and are extremely risky procedures. The LOHC process at Hydrogenious involves using benzyl toluene – a thermal oil, which is hardly flammable and is non-explosive – and its risk potential is as low as that of diesel fuel. The carrier oil, which is loaded with H₂, can also be stored in ambient conditions as regards its pressure and temperature and has a competitive storage density level.

“We want to successfully introduce the maritime LOHC drive technology to the especially high safety requirements of inland waterway shipping within the HyBarge project. HGK Shipping will be the ideal partner in this respect. We’ll also use the expertise that we’ve gained during the last two years in developing LOHC powertrains for commissioning/service operation vessels,” said Øystein Skår, the General Manager of Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime.

Dr. Daniel Teichmann, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and the CEO and founder of H2ious LOHC Technologies, adds, “We’re stepping out to make significant progress in the energy transition in the transport sector together with HGK Shipping. Decarbonized mobility solutions and transport operations along the sensitive network of rivers in Europe can become reality using existing infrastructure, thanks to our safe LOHC technology.”

Steffen Bauer, the CEO of HGK Shipping, said, “Introducing the demonstration vessel could be more than just a milestone in achieving climate-neutral inland waterway shipping – the same could be true for industry, which will depend on energy sources such as H₂ to decarbonize its operations. Hydrogenious’ LOHC technology has enormous potential for use, particularly when compared to other H₂ derivatives. However, what is more important is that it doesn’t need any special tank technology, with the result that this LOHC can be made available within the existing infrastructure both on land and on the water.”

To use the H₂ bound in the LOHC as a fuel, the demonstration vessel must have special technology, which must be installed on board, so that it is able to separate it from the carrier medium. This takes place using the dehydrogenation unit, which Hydrogenious has developed. The H₂ is then fed to the fuel cell. The discharged carrier material, benzyl toluene, can be temporarily absorbed to the H₂ again in a chemical process at the stationary LOHC infrastructure (storage and release equipment) further downstream. This is possible several hundred times – and the substance can then be recycled too.