Page 16 - Gi_October2021

HYDROGEN: per cent of global CO₂ emissions, and

progress to reduce carbon output is
stubbornly slow.
The current volume-production
of hydrogen as an energy carrier
is negligible compared with the 75
ALL AT SEA million tonnes of grey/brown hydrogen
produced annually for fertiliser and
chemicals production. Blue hydrogen,
produced by steam methane reforming
(SMR) from gas with carbon capture and
storage (CCS), will replace some of the
grey and brown hydrogen in the coming
decades. In total, blue hydrogen will
also comprise 18 per cent of hydrogen
Hydrogen is one of the most suitable solutions to contribute supply for energy purposes by 2050.
Green hydrogen from electrolysis
to the replacement of hydrocarbons in the future and its will be the main long-term solution
consumption is expected to grow significantly over the next for decarbonising hard-to-abate
three decades. One way in which this zero-carbon gas could sectors, including hydrogen as a basis
contribute to the transition away from fossil fuels is through for other e-fuels.
use at sea, however there are certain inherent risks that HYDROGEN FORECAST FOR SHIPPING
must be addressed. Daniel Allason and Hari Vamadevan For the maritime sector, decarbonising
describe some of the work DNV is doing to support hydrogen shipping and transportation remains
innovation this area and ensure any developments in this a significant challenge as storing
electrical energy from renewables in
sector are as safe as possible significant capacity makes it of little use
A highest potential to tackle hard-to-abate a ship at sea, where space and load
against the requirements of running
new forecast on the energy
requirements inhibit battery options.
emissions from activities including
transition has warned that
Liquid hydrogen (LH₂), commonly used
electrification, hydrogen and
aviation, maritime, long-haul trucking,
as fuel in the space industry, forms one
and large parts of heavy industry.
e-fuels are not scaling rapidly
enough to avert climate
The study predicts this will only start
catastrophe. to scale from the mid-2030s and even potential solution where the required
energy density/volume can feasibly be
DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook, then, will only build to five per cent of met for ships of all sizes.
now in its fifth year, states that as an the energy mix by 2050. These sectors Its use poses significant technical
energy carrier, hydrogen holds the are currently responsible for around 35 and safety challenges around the
scale of operations, number of usage
points, and its proximity to personnel.
CO2 EMISSIONS OF HARD-TO-ABATE SECTORS BY 2050 Potentially critical scenarios for LH₂
on ships can be described through
a variety of phenomena including
outflow, dispersion, accumulation,
cryogenic exposure, ignition potential,
explosion, and fire.
The Norwegian government
is supporting a wide range of
interconnected hydrogen fuel activities
involving players ranging from the
Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA),
the Directorate for Civil Protection
(DSB) and the Norwegian Public
Roads Administration (NPRA), to
DNV, shipyards and shipowners. The
project aims to develop and implement
hydrogen technology in order to achieve
zero emissions on ferry routes not
suitable for full-electric operation.
In 2018, the NPRA gave the go
ahead for a hydrogen-electric ferry on
the Hjelmeland–Nesvik route on the
southwest coast. One concept for zero-
emission ferry transportation involves
LH₂ as a concentrated form
of hydrogen storage.

16

15/09/2021 13:01
DNVInnovation.indd 1 15/09/2021 13:01
DNVInnovation.indd 1