Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and Japan Suiso Energy (JSE) have contracted to build what will be the largest-yet liquefied hydrogen (LH2) carrier with a capacity of 40,000m3.
The vessel will be built at KHI’s Sakaide Works. JSE is the project operator for the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund Project: Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain Commercialisation Demonstration which plans to demonstrate by 2030 the ship-to-base loading/unloading of LH2 and perform trials under ocean-going conditions.
In 2021, KHI constructed the world’s first LH2 carrier, the 1250m3 capacity Suiso Frontier. In addition, it established the ‘Hy touch Kobe’ LH2 receiving demonstration terminal. In February 2022, KHI participated in the first successful pilot demonstration of loading/unloading and transportation of LH2 between Japan and Australia.
Designed and built by KHI to respond to the global demand for hydrogen anticipated in the 2030’s, the new 250m long vessel is expected to provide the foundation for the future hydrogen supply chain.
Using this vessel and the Kawasaki LH2 Terminal, a LH2 base now under construction at Ogishima, Kawasaki City, JSE will demonstrate performance, safety, durability, reliability, economics, and other elements required for the commercialisation of a global hydrogen supply chain.
The main features of the new vessel are as follows:
- Equipped with cargo tanks for LH2 with a total capacity of around 40,000 m3. Uses a high-performance insulation system to reduce the generation of boil-off gas (BOG) caused by natural heat ingress from the outside, enabling large-scale transportation of cryogenic LH2.
- The electric propulsion system features a hydrogen/oil-based dual-fuel generator engine in addition to a conventional oil-based engine. Furthermore, the installation of a hydrogen gas supply system with a compressor and a heat exchanger enables BOG generated from the LH2 cargo tanks to be used as a propellant, reducing CO₂ emissions during liquid hydrogen transport.
- Equipped with a cargo handling system capable of loading and unloading large volumes of LH2. Double-wall vacuum jacketed piping keeps the material at an extremely low temperature for efficient and safe transfer between the onshore facility and the LH2 tanks on the vessel.
- With a shape and draught that consider the low density of LH2, the vessel requires less power and has a high propulsion efficiency.
- The hydrogen fuel system, fuel supply system, and cargo handling system for LH2 and hydrogen gas are risk assessed, and suitable safety measures taken to ensure that the LH2 poses no risk to the crew, environment, or structural integrity and soundness of the vessel.
KHI and JSE will continue to cooperate with diverse businesses to construct a commercial-scale, international supply chain for LH2 with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Image: Impression of 40,000m3 liquefied hydrogen carrier (Kawasaki Heavy Industries)
