In line with an increased industry interest in hydrogen technologies for reducing the environmental footprint of maritime operations, a group of Japanese entities has joined forces on a new project aiming to promote commercial operation of hydrogen fuel cell ships.
The five partners include energy firms Utility Kansai Electric Power and Iwatani, shipbuilder Namura Shipbuilding, the Development Bank of Japan, as well as the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, which revealed plans to start a feasibility study on the commercial operation of hydrogen ships.
Under the partnership, the hydrogen ship be put into operation during the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025, as a passenger ship that connects Yumeshima, the venue for the Expo, with sightseeing spots in Osaka City.
While environmental awareness is increasing worldwide and hydrogen is expected to be used in various means of transportation, hydrogen ships have higher environmental performance that does not emit CO2 or environmentally hazardous substances when traveling compared to conventional diesel ships,
…Utility Kansai Electric Power stated.
Last year, a Japanese consortium, made up by Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, MOL, and Mitsubishi Corporation, established e5 Lab company, aiming to develop and promote the greater use of clean modes of marine transport by building the world’s first zero-emission tanker by mid 2021.
