Clean energy solutions provider Unitrove on Friday (23 July) said it has launched a campaign to decarbonise the global maritime sector by delivering the world’s first liquid hydrogen bunkering facility for fuelling zero-emission vessels.
Liquid hydrogen is often stored at the cryogenic temperatures of −253 °C (−423 °F) and has been used for decades as the propulsion fuel of choice for launching rockets and satellites into space.
The group said that it is only now being seriously explored for commercial heavy-duty mobility applications.
Steven Lua, CEO commented: “We already see very early signs of light-duty vessels being battery-driven or powered by compressed gaseous hydrogen, but liquid hydrogen will allow us to serve the heavier portion of the shipping fleet where we hope to have a much larger impact. We are also exploring options including ammonia, liquid organic hydrogen carriers, and solid hydrogen in the form of sodium borohydride.”
“However, we understand that priority is currently being given to the development of international standards and regulations for pure hydrogen, and this could play a significant factor in the long run.”
“We believe that hydrogen will be recognised as a global commodity that will be traded in the same way that natural gas is today.”
“The bunker fuel market is worth an estimated $120bn, so there is a huge opportunity not only in environmental and social terms, but also financially.”
Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 27 July, 2021
The ships, currently constructed at Remontowa, will be operated by ferry companies Unity Line and Polferries and run entirely on bio-LNG by 2025.
Azane Fuel Solutions will offer its products and services globally and see the Northern European market as a likely early adopter of ammonia bunker fuel.
Marsa LNG, an integrated company between TotalEnergies (80%) and Oman National Oil Company, OQ (20%), will eventually produce LNG for bunker fuel.
Research studies use of methanol as fuel in converted diesel engines of smaller vessels in Sweden.
Document includes proposed suitable metal materials to be used for containment systems and supporting structures according to characteristics of eco-friendly fuels.
Singapore shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine has delivered its second LNG-fuelled tugboat newbuilding to affiliated tugboat services firm Keppel Smit Towage.
Discussions around the need to develop methanol bunkering operations are taking place at numerous ports ahead of estimated demand of above 7M mtpa by 2030, says Chris Chatterton of Methanol Institute.
‘Economics of the shipping market will be the key driver enabling methanol to be adopted at a higher pace going forth over next couple years as market begins to return to more normal rates,’ states COO.
Integr8 Fuel injunction varied by Singapore Court to allow former employees to start work at Hartree Group in December 2022 following failure to produce evidence on biofuels development plans.
Variability of sources can affect the stability and performance of biofuel bunkers produced from these feedstocks, in turn leading to difficulties in meeting regulations and industry standards, shares Bryan Quek.
Top three positive movers in 2022 were Bunker House Petroleum Pte Ltd (+7), Eastpoint International Marketing Pte Ltd (+5), and Eng Hua Company (Pte) Ltd (+6); newcomer Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore) gets 19th spot.
Livestock carrier also involved in earlier bunker claim with Glander International Bunkering due to remaining unpaid fuel bill of approximately USD 116,000, according to court documents obtained by Manifold Times.
