Future Of Hydrogen

First Hydrogen-Powered CTV

The first Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) powered by hydrogen is now ready for immediate operation, according to a statement from Windcat Workboats and CMB.TECH [1][7]. The ship is known as the Hydrocat 48 [1]. The first CTV that employs clean fuels to cut up to 80% of its usual fuel usage and associated emissions is this ground-breaking innovation for both the maritime and offshore wind industries [1].

The Hydrocat 48 is a further advancement in green technology that adds clean fuel technology to the existing very effective and fuel-efficient Windcat MK 3.5 design [1]. The MK3.5 series now incorporates dual fuel technology while maintaining the performance and dependability of a conventionally powered vessel [1][7]. It is the first ship to genuinely provide an eco-friendly substitute for diesel fuel [1] [7].

In 2017, CMB.TECH was the first to create a passenger shuttle fuelled by hydrogen. The Hydrocat 48 is now being designed and constructed using this tested technology [1]. The base MAN engine is manufactured by MAN Engines for dual fuel use and retrofitted by CMB.TECH with a hydrogen injection system [1]. This vessel provides the industry with a practical method that is now applicable to all wind farms [1] for dramatically reducing emissions from service vessels.

Figure 1: Hydrocat 48

BEH2YDRO dual fuel engine range

BEH2YDRO is a joint company between Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) and Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) that develops and sells hydrogen dual fuel engines for the power, rail, and maritime industries [2] [7] . The BeHydro dual-fuel engine line has a power range of 1 MW to 2,670 kW [3] [7] and is available in 6, 8, 12 or 16 cylinders[7] .

BeHydro dual-fuel engines are extremely adaptable and were designed for heavy-duty applications. They lessen the owner's or user's reliance on fossil fuels because they run on 85% hydrogen petrol and 15% conventional fuel. CO2 emissions are decreased with this kind of engine by up to 85%! In addition, there are no hazardous emissions when used in conjunction with an after-treatment system (EATS). The newest and strongest emission requirements in the world can be readily met thanks to the removal of the leftover soot particles and nitrogen gases (NOx) by a particulate filter and SCR system[4] [7]. The engine model is demonstrated in the following video.

Video 1: BeHydro Dual Fuel

BEH2YDRO 100% hydrogen engines

BEH2YDRO 100% hydrogen fuel engine is a new kind of engine that works on pure hydrogen petrol, without any fossil fuels or toxic emissions [5] . Similar to a typical internal combustion engine, the BeHydro engine operates by igniting a mixture of hydrogen and air in a combustion chamber. The BeHydro engine doesn't emit any carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), or soot particles, in contrast to conventional engines[5] [6]. Water vapour and inhaled air are the only by-products. This makes the BeHydro engine a clean, zero-emission energy source .

After the successful introduction of dual-fuel engines in September 2020, the BeHydro engine was introduced in May 2022 at the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam [5]. The dual-fuel engines can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 85% by running on 85% hydrogen and 15% conventional fuel. When hydrogen is not available, they can also switch to 100% conventional fuel. The newest invention from BeHydro, the 100% hydrogen engines, shows the potential of hydrogen as a cornerstone to a sustainable and clean energy transition. The engine model is demonstrated in the following video.

Video 2: BeHydro 100% Fuel

References

[1] CMB.TECH. (n.d.). First hydrogen-powered CTV: Hydrocat 48. [online] Available at: https://cmb.tech/news/windcat-workboats-cmb-tech-present-the-first-hydrogen-powered-crew-transfer-vessel-ctv-the-hydrocat-48-ready-for-immediate-operation.

[2] www.behydro.be. (n.d.). BeHydro from ABC Belgian. [online] Available at: https://www.behydro.be/en/home.html.

[3] Media, D.A.S. (2023). Check out the video animation of the…. [online] Anglo Belgian Corporation. Available at: https://www.abc-engines.com/en/news/video-animation-behydro-dual-fuel-hydrogen-engines [Accessed 7 May 2023].

[4] Behydro. (n.d.). Engines. [online] Available at: https://production.behydro.be/engines [Accessed 7 May 2023].

[5] Media, D.A.S. (2023). BeHydro launches 100% hydrogen engines for. [online] Anglo Belgian Corporation. Available at: https://www.abc-engines.com/en/news/launch-behydro-si-hydrogen-engine.

[6] Anon, (2022). New 100% Hydrogen Engines For Heavy-duty Applications | Ship Nerd. [online] Available at: https://www.shipnerdnews.com/new-100-hydrogen-engines-for-heavy-duty-applications/ [Accessed 7 May 2023].

‌[7] Omatick, T., Zhang, D., Blais, M.S., Mossolly, M., Renzi, P., Kurz, R., Freund, S. and Harvey, S. (2022). Chapter 7 - Usage. [online] ScienceDirect. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323903943000096. [Accessed 7 May 2023].

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Hydrogen Roadmap

2023:

Hydrocat 48 – a fully operational proof-of-concept hydrogen-powered CTV in use. The Hydrocat 48 will serve as a proof-of-concept for the feasibility of using hydrogen-powered commercial transport vehicles (CTVs). It will demonstrate the viability of hydrogen as a fuel source for heavy-duty transport, particularly for long hauls. This will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in the transport sector, which accounts for a significant portion of global carbon emissions [1]

Hydrogen IC engines can operate using up to 80% hydrogen, making it an efficient and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. With the successful deployment of Hydrocat 48, it will become apparent that hydrogen IC engines can be a viable option for commercial transport [1] .
In Europe, the cost of production for green hydrogen is estimated to range between €3-8 per kilogram. This cost will reduce further with advances in technology and increased investment in the hydrogen economy.

2025:

The UK will achieve 1GW of hydrogen production capacity, accompanied by significant growth in electricity production. The increase in hydrogen production capacity will support the growing demand for hydrogen as a fuel source, particularly in the transport sector.

Initial trials for shipping and transport will begin, which will enable further exploration of the potential for hydrogen in the maritime industry. This will also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in the sector, which has been a significant contributor to global emissions.

The cost of renewable proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis will reduce to £112/MWh or £3.73/kg, making hydrogen more affordable and competitive with traditional fossil fuels.

2027:

To support the growing demand for hydrogen, the UK government will increase its research and development (R&D) budget to 2.4% of GDP. This investment will help accelerate the development of hydrogen technologies, including hydrogen production, storage, and transport.

Global green hydrogen production is estimated to require 50GW of renewable energy capacity. This will require significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure to support the growth of the hydrogen economy.

2030:

The cost of renewable proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis will reduce to £71/MWh or £2.36/kg. This will significantly reduce the cost of producing hydrogen and make it a more competitive fuel source in various sectors.

Improved hydrogen fuel cells and IC engines will be commercially available, leading to greater adoption of hydrogen as a fuel source. The adoption of hydrogen in various sectors will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

The UK will achieve 5GW of hydrogen production capacity, supporting the growing demand for hydrogen as a fuel source.

Renewable and low-carbon fuels are projected to make up 5.5-13.5% of fuel used in the shipping sector, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions in the sector.

2050:

Renewable and low-carbon fuels are projected to account for 86-88% of fuel used in the shipping industry, with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) promising net-zero emissions from shipping. The shift towards renewable and low-carbon fuels will contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions from the shipping industry, which has been a significant contributor to global carbon emissions.

Hydrogen costs per kilogram will reduce by as much as 95%, making it more affordable and competitive with traditional fossil fuels. This will support the adoption of hydrogen as a fuel source in various sectors, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

References

[1] CMB.TECH. (n.d.). First hydrogen-powered CTV: Hydrocat 48. [online] Available at: https://cmb.tech/news/windcat-workboats-cmb-tech-present-the-first-hydrogen-powered-crew-transfer-vessel-ctv-the-hydrocat-48-ready-for-immediate-operation.