In a liquid carrier
Emission-free inland barge to be launched in 2028. HGK Shipping and the companies Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies have agreed to develop a scalable solution that will make hydrogen available as an energy carrier for inland navigation on a nationwide basis in Germany.
The magic formula is LOHC – the abbreviation stands for liquid-organic hydrogen carrier, which means hydrogen that is bound in a liquid carrier.
By 2028 HGK Shipping, a component of the German company Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln (HGK) that operates no less than 350 ships, and its two technology partners want to develop and commission a demonstration ship whose propulsion units can be powered by a fuel cell supplied with energy via hydrogen dissolved from the LOHC.
This was the gist of an agreement presented in Cologne (Germany) at the beginning of May by the inland shipping company HGK Shipping, together with the firms Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies.
Great potential for commercial use
While the starting signal for the project – dubbed the ‘HyBarge’ undertaking – is only set to be given next year, the cooperation partners have already started the conception phase.
The ‘hydro geniuses’ are currently gathering experience on the emission-free application of LOHC technology in maritime shipping, which they will transfer to inland navigation as part of the project.
It’s possible that the demonstration ship will be used to test LOHC transport on inland waterways too – but that’s not a part of the current mou yet. It does represent a potential future step, however. The demonstration ship has the potential to be part of the chain from LOHC production to its application in propulsion technology and transport to potential users.
Safe as well as clean
Daniel Teichmann, the chairman of the board of directors of the Norwegian enterprise Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and CEO as well as the founder of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, said that “together with HGK Shipping we’re committed to advancing the energy transition in the transport sector. With our safe LOHC technology, decarbonised propulsion solutions as well as transport on Europe’s riverine network using them and existing infrastructure can soon become a reality.”