Alternative Fuels

Indonesia and HDF Energy partner to study hydrogen solutions for maritime decarbonisation

Agreement between HDF Energy, Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, PLN and ASDP outlined a joint study to decarbonise Indonesia’s maritime sector using locally produced green hydrogen.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 22, 2025

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Indonesia and HDF Energy partner to study hydrogen solutions for maritime decarbonisation

PT HDF Energy Indonesia, a subsidiary of French hydrogen infrastructure developer HDF Energy, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation (MoT), state-owned electric utility PT PLN (Persero) and ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero).

The agreement outlined a joint study to decarbonise Indonesia’s maritime sector using locally produced green hydrogen. The study will be conducted in collaboration with, and co-funded by, the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The MoU was signed during the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit on April 15, 2025 in Indonesia.

The study will focus on Eastern Indonesia, a region with plenty of sun and home to many of ASDP’s strategic ferry routes. HDF Energy is currently developing 23 Renewstable® hydrogen power plants in the region. These facilities combine a solar park with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen to provide non-intermittent, stable and 100% clean electricity to the grid, day and night.

By generating surplus green hydrogen at a competitive marginal cost, Renewstable® plants also pave the way for the supply of green hydrogen to decarbonise maritime transport. The hydrogen produced will be used to power the high-power fuel cells developed and manufactured by HDF Energy in France, a modular, reliable solution tailored to the conversion of maritime fleets.

With this project, HDF Energy is deploying an integrated approach: producing competitive green hydrogen locally and offering a zero-emission maritime vessels’ propulsion solution based on its fuel cells.

ASDP, which operates one of the world’s largest ferry networks, plays a critical role in connecting Indonesia’s remote islands. As a key player in the maritime sector’s energy transition, the company will contribute to the study to identify opportunities for converting its fleet and port infrastructures. The aim is to replace traditional diesel engines with solutions based on green hydrogen and renewable electricity, in order to significantly reduce emissions.

PLN has already taken a proactive role in launching hydrogen pilot projects across the country. The company previously signed an MoU with HDF Energy to accelerate the deployment of Renewstable® hydrogen power plants as a green alternative to diesel-based power — a collaboration representing potential investments of up to USD 2.3 billion, supported by international development institutions including the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

On the same occasion, HDF also signed an MoU with PT Pelayaran Bahtera Adhiguna (PT BAg), a national shipping company specialising in sea transportation services for primary energy distribution across Indonesia. The partnership reflects a joint commitment to assessing hydrogen as a clean alternative to power auxiliary systems on large vessels.

Mathieu Geze, HDF Energy’s Director for APAC and President Director of PT HDF Energy Indonesia, stated: “We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to a Net Zero emission future through this strategic collaboration. Working together with PLN, ASDP, the Ministry of Transportation, and with PT Bag, we aim to place Indonesia at the forefront of green hydrogen innovation in the Asia-Pacific. Our fuel cells represent a decisive step forward in the decarbonization of maritime transport in the Indonesian archipelago, as well as a formidable showcase for French innovation on the international stage.”

On a regional scale, this partnership in Indonesia is part of HDF Energy’s development drive in Southeast Asia.

On 11 April, in the Philippines, HDF signed a MoU with the Department of Transportation to harness green hydrogen—produced by HDF’s Renewstable® power plants currently under development—to power the next generation of hydrogen-fuelled maritime vessels.

The following day in Vietnam, HDF entered into a strategic partnership with ACST, an organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Construction, to advance green hydrogen solutions, including the retrofitting of diesel ferries with HDF’s hydrogen fuel cells.

Photo credit: HDF Energy
Published: 22 April, 2025

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Baleària arranges three LNG bunkering operations on same day in Barcelona

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The occasion marked the first time three bunkering operations were carried out on three different ships on the same day at the same port in Spain.

The company said the three vessels were fuelled with a total of 2,320 MWh of LNG by eight tankers.

Fast ferry Margarita Salas was fuelled by three tankers simultaneously. Ferry Martín i Soler was fuelled by two tankers and ferry Bahama Mama was bunkered by another three tankers also.

“Our commitment to LNG grew by 184% in 2024. Combined with electric propulsion and other eco-efficiency measures, we have managed to reduce our carbon footprint by almost 10% per passenger,” it said.

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Published: 19 May, 2025

Biofuel

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Cosco Shipping Europe, the regional management company of China Cosco Shipping Corporation in the European Region, on Friday (16 May) said biofuel bunkering is now available at Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) in Greece.

PCT, a fully controlled subsidiary of Cosco Shipping Ports, has officially introduced biofuel bunkering services for vessels calling at the Port of Piraeus – supporting customers in achieving greener, more sustainable supply chains.

After listening to customer needs, Cosco Shipping (Europe) said PCT swiftly moved into action to re-evaluate legal foundations for biofuel bunkering under ISO 8217:2024 and new Greek regulations.

It added that PCT also partnered with suppliers to provide full-service bunkering options.

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ABS answers critical safety questions related to using ammonia as a marine fuel

ABS engineers examined realistic bunkering situations such as STS, terminal-to-ship and truck-to-ship, as well as ammonia dispersion from the vessel due to a leakage incident in the engine room.

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Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) on Thursday (15 May) published its report to bring together the findings of its advanced research into the performance of ammonia on board.

Critical safety questions such as “how does ammonia behave when it leaks in an engine room?” and “how does a cloud of escaped ammonia disperse during bunkering operations?” are addressed in the latest ABS research.

ABS performed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using advanced tools to quantitatively assess the risks associated with ammonia dispersion in accidental leakage scenarios.

ABS engineers examined realistic bunkering situations such as ship-to-ship, terminal-to-ship and truck-to-ship, as well as ammonia dispersion from the vessel due to a leakage incident in the engine room.

“This publication provides a comprehensive report of ABS’ efforts to address the challenges and opportunities presented by ammonia as a marine fuel,” said Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Business Development.

“Through detailed analysis of ammonia dispersion studies and emergency evacuation protocols, ABS is contributing to the discourse on safe and supportable maritime fuel alternatives, fostering a culture of preparedness and resilience.”

In addition to CFD simulation analysis, ABS leveraged the latest industry best practices and advancements in software and hardware – including acoustic cameras for detecting and visualizing ammonia leakage – to provide a thorough, three-part framework for owners and operators evaluating ammonia as a cleaner fuel source:

Proactive regulatory engagement and risk anticipation
Development and implementation of a multifaceted safety framework, combining qualitative and quantitative risk assessments
Real-time monitoring and optimized emergency response

Note: Download a copy of the ABS publication Safety Insights for Ammonia as a Marine Fuel here.

Photo credit: Venti Views on Unsplash
Published: 19 May, 2025