[Courtesy of HD KSOE]
To minimize the damage by climate change, the world is starting to engage in a global initiative of reducing dependency on fossil fuels and go completely carbon neutral by 2050. Along with electric motors powered by renewable energy sources, hydrogen fuel cell systems are regarded as the next-generation power drive systems for vehicles, vessels, and airplanes.
However, while hydrogen can be mass-produced through the conversion of ammonia or the breakdown of water using electrolysis techniques, storage techniques of the highly combustible liquid gas are still being developed, especially in the maritime sector where large-scale hydrogen storage systems are required by tankers and refueling centers.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) said that the company will take part in a consortium that involves 13 other companies and organizations including the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Dresden University of Technology to collaborate in a research program to develop liquefied hydrogen cargo tanks.
According to HD KSOE, the shipbuilding company's European research institute in Dusseldorf, Germany, will play a vital role in the consortium. The research center was established in April 2023 through a 15 million-Euro ($16 million) fund. HD KSOE and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries developed a 1.5-megawatt-class liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen fuel hybrid engine. The ship maker will commercialize a full hydrogen engine for vessels by 2025.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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