German firm Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies and Norwegian Johannes Østensjø have founded a joint venture company aiming to develop emission-free propulsion systems for the global shipping market based on liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC).
Under the name ‘Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime AS’, the company is aiming to have a megawatt-scale commercial product ready by 2025. By binding the hydrogen to the LOHC, this will be a particularly safe and low-cost technology. Enova, owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, also announced support of the joint venture’s initial project HyNjord with NOK 26 million (about 2.5 million Euros).
Our technology is very suitable for maritime use. It is optimal for us to bring our stationary systems, not first on the road, but sensibly on the water,
…comments Dr. Daniel Teichmann, CEO and founder of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technology has developed the LOHC technology, which is a process of loading hydrogen in a thermal oil as well as releasing it where and when it’s needed. The product is neither inflammable nor explosive. which makes the technology a safe and efficient way of storing and transporting hydrogen.
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As explained, the move is expected to revolutionize the supply chain for hydrogen, as LOHC can be used to store and transport large quantities of hydrogen under ambient conditions, using the already existing fossil fuel infrastructure. The carrier oil – Benzyltoluene – can be loaded and unloaded with hydrogen many hundreds of times and is recyclable many times over. The energy density of LOHC is also favorable, as a vessel can store 2-3 times more energy compared to compressed hydrogen.
The fact that we can use existing fuel infrastructure and are able to use familiar fuelling procedures is of importance. In addition, we can easily carry enough energy onboard our vessels in order to operate in normal intervals of up to four weeks without refueling,
…says Håvard Framnes, Investment Director in Østensjø.
Enova SF has decided to fund the development of a 200 kw pilot of the LOHC/fuel cell propulsion system – the focus of the first joint venture project HyNjord – with NOK 26 million (about 2.5 million Euros). The planned application will integrate three core components onboard: The LOHC Release Unit, which releases hydrogen from the liquid organic carrier Benzyltoluene on demand on the ship, as well as a fuel cell and an interface to the ship’s power management system.
We see a need to develop technologies for the use of various zero-emission energy carriers. LOHC will be a new alternative to compressed and fluid hydrogen, and the different energy carriers will probably have different advantages and areas of application. The HyNjord LOHC-project will give us valuable information in order to contribute for hydrogen to become a real alternative to fossil fuels
…says Øyvind Leistad, Marketing Director in Enova.
