DNV has granted GTT two approvals in principle for the design of a membrane type containment system for liquefied hydrogen (LH2) and for the preliminary concept design of a LH2 carrier.
These approvals are part of the agreement with Shell, announced in February 2022, and pave the way for the next stages of the project.
Philippe Berterottière, chair and chief executive of GTT, said that the company had a close partnership with DNG. “Our LH2 carrier development project with Shell is very promising and this first step confirms the reliability and relevance of our solutions as well as our determination to make this technology viable and quickly available to maritime transport and energy players,” he said.
As part of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the ability to transport very large volumes of hydrogen in liquefied form at -253°C is one of the technological challenges to establishing a reliable and competitive supply chain.
GTT has designed a LH2 containment system that meets current regulatory requirements and anticipates future developments, as requirements for the transport and cargo of hydrogen are being developed by the IMO.
Johan Petter Tutturen, vice president business development manager CO2 and H2 Carriers of DNV Maritime, said that hydrogen is a potential foundation of future energy transition. “As such it is essential that industry is able to pursue the enabling technologies safely and with confidence.”
Shell also sees LH2 cargo containment systems as a key way to help achieve decarbonisation. “We have been working with GTT since the early days of the first LNG carrier development, and it is great to see how their expertise can be applied to enabling liquid hydrogen transport,” said Carl Henrickson, general manager shipping & maritime technology, innovation & digitalisation of Shell International Trading and Shipping Company.
“This technology will support the safe and efficient scaling of bulk liquid hydrogen transport by sea, which in turn will help unlock hydrogen as a fuel source for the future,” he added.
