HD KSOE’s Vacuum-Insulated Tank Receives AiP from DNV, Advancing Large-Scale Liquefied Hydrogen Storage

HD KSOE’s Vacuum-Insulated Tank Receives AiP from DNV, Advancing Large-Scale Liquefied Hydrogen Storage

(IN BRIEF) DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for its innovative vacuum-insulated large-scale liquefied hydrogen (LH2) tank, marking a significant advancement in hydrogen storage solutions. This development is vital for enabling the cost-effective, flexible storage of LH2, essential for decarbonizing industries such as transportation and power generation. HD KSOE’s new method for achieving vacuum insulation in large tanks has been successfully demonstrated and offers a more efficient approach to storing hydrogen. The company’s breakthrough was acknowledged by industry leaders like Woodside Energy, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Hyundai Glovis. This collaboration is part of a broader effort to create a global hydrogen economy and improve large-scale hydrogen transportation.

(PRESS RELEASE) BÆRUM, 20-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for their pioneering vacuum-insulated large-scale liquefied hydrogen (LH2) tank. This breakthrough marks a significant step forward in the development of practical storage solutions for liquefied hydrogen, essential for its role in decarbonizing industries such as transportation, shipping, and power generation.

The key to realizing the full potential of LH2 lies in developing cost-effective, flexible, and safe large-scale storage solutions that can operate with lower capital and operational costs. By enabling the efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen, these innovations are vital in bridging the gap between hydrogen production and consumption, thus supporting the transition to a global hydrogen economy.

One of the main hurdles in large-scale LH2 storage is ensuring vacuum insulation in large tanks. HD KSOE has overcome this challenge with a novel method that reduces the time required to establish a vacuum, making the construction of large tanks more feasible. This method, successfully tested using a large chamber, positions HD KSOE as the first shipbuilder to demonstrate the viability of such an approach.

Jason Crusan, Vice President of Energy Solutions at Woodside Energy, commented, “This achievement is pivotal, providing further confidence in the feasibility of designing and constructing liquid hydrogen ships in a shipyard environment.”

Jotaro Tamura, Senior Management Executive Officer at Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), highlighted, “This verification test is a major milestone in the quest to transport liquefied hydrogen, particularly in overcoming the challenge of scaling up tank sizes, which is crucial for commercializing hydrogen transport.”

Chi O. Kwon, Vice President at Hyundai Glovis, praised the innovation, saying, “As the first in the world to successfully scale up a hydrogen tank, HD KSOE has set a strong foundation for future progress in this field, demonstrating significant dedication and research innovation.”

Dr. Byeongyong Yoo, Vice President at HD KSOE, remarked, “Our efforts to advance large-scale energy shipping technologies, from LNG and LPG to ammonia, CO2, and hydrogen, are central to our mission. The success of this vacuum system solution and large-scale validation test underpins our ongoing work with global partners to drive the energy transition and achieve net-zero targets.”

Vidar Dolonen, DNV’s Regional Manager for Korea and Japan, noted, “The approval of this AiP marks another significant milestone in the journey towards a global hydrogen economy. Our collaboration with HD KSOE and other innovative partners underscores how collective effort can address the technical challenges of a zero-carbon future and create safer, more efficient hydrogen transport solutions.”

The testing process, observed by experts from Woodside Energy, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Hyundai Glovis, and DNV, further cements HD KSOE’s role in advancing large-scale liquefied hydrogen transportation. In partnership with Woodside Energy, HD KSOE is also working on developing 80,000-cubic-meter liquefied hydrogen carriers, forming part of a broader initiative to create a comprehensive maritime transportation network for large-scale hydrogen transport.

Media Contact:

Margrethe Andersen
Head of External Communications, Maritime
Phone: +47 47 68 22 89
margrethe.andersen@dnv.com

SOURCE: DNV