Port of Amsterdam to build a hydrogen research ship that operates with sodium borohydride as solid hydrogen carrier.
Shipyard Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog will build a hydrogen vessel for the European project H2Ships. According to the builder, the Neo Orbis, as the ship is called, will be the first ship in the world that will sail electrically on hydrogen in ‘solid’ form.
Albert Keizer, director of the shipyard, referring to the climate objectives that the shipping industry also stands for, said:
If this is really going to gain momentum, it will be a large part of the solution for shipping.
Powder becomes hydrogen
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Hydrogen in gaseous form is a risk on board a ship and requires a large storage space. This does not apply to the ‘solid’ form. This concerns the substance sodium borohydride.
That is a powder that is widely used in washing powders. Ships would store this powder on board, after which it could be converted into hydrogen along the way by bringing it into contact with very pure water and a catalyst.
The amounts of powder that a ship must have on board are comparable to what they now carry in fossil fuels. Extra large tanks are therefore not necessary. Keizer: “I think there will be a very nice mix, so that there is the right application for every ship.”
Collaboration with TU Delft
“The substance sodium borohydride itself is very safe, but it is a development process and it all still has to prove itself. TU Delft has also been called in for this. I think the right parties are together.”
Within thirty years, shipping in Europe must be emission-free, “but that takes far too long, we have to go much faster”, says Keizer. “I think we’ll be making revolutionary strides in five years.”
Ship goes to the port of Amsterdam
The yard in Lauwersoog acquired the order through a European tender. The intention is that the ship will be launched for the first time in June next year. The Neo Orbis will then sail under the flag of Port of Amsterdam.
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Next Generation Shipyards builds ship that sails on hydrogen in ‘solid’ form, July 29, 2022
