【Haichuan New Energy】The Netherlands builds the world’s first hydrogen-electric powered ship
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Port of Amsterdam revealed last Thursday (July 28) that the hydrogen-powered ship Neo Orbis, which is under construction, has been handed over to the contacts at Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog, the Netherlands, following the European tender process. It is expected to become \"the world’s first hydrogen-electric-powered ship,\" using sodium borohydride in solid form as an energy source; it holds promise as a zero-emission solution for inland waterway transportation, offshore operations, and dredging, as well as for patrol boats and naval vessels. The ship was originally designed by Wijk Yacht Creations and is being built under Europe’s H2Ships program; trials are scheduled to take place in June 2023, after the construction contract is signed. Amsterdam Port states that using sodium borohydride as an energy carrier for ships provides a high energy density and enables safe refueling on board. The Neo Orbis will serve as the flagship of Amsterdam Port, as Dutch ports are committed to achieving zero-emission transportation by 2050. To establish itself as a key player in Europe’s hydrogen economy, Amsterdam Port will acquire a 500-megawatt green hydrogen plant under the H2era project with Hydrogen Chemistry Company (HyCC).
Sodium borohydride in solid form, as an energy carrier, holds promise as a zero-emission solution for inland waterway shipping, offshore operations, and dredging
A 500-megawatt green hydrogen plant is still a bit large
Exhaust emissions are the primary form of emissions from ships, and carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas emitted by ships. Since the second half of the 20th century, the trend toward larger ships has become increasingly evident, with particular significant development in container ships, oil tankers, and bulk carriers. According to analysis by the International Energy Agency, in 2019 international maritime transport accounted for about 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector; as global freight volume increased, direct carbon dioxide emissions resulting from maritime transportation activities have risen significantly over the past 10 years. According to the fourth greenhouse gas survey published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020, annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping increased from 977 million tons to 1.076 billion tons between 2012 and 2018. If left unchecked, it is estimated that by 2050, due to the ongoing increase in maritime shipping demand, carbon dioxide emissions will be about 50% higher than in 2018. In addition, to address the pollution of urban air caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emitted by ships, policy measures aimed at reducing such emissions from ships have been introduced in recent years, such as the \"Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Ship Pollution of the Marine Environment\" and the \"Implementation Plan for Air Pollutant Emission Control Zones for Ships\"; moreover, the \"Implementation Plan for the 2020 Global Sulphur Limit for Marine Fuel\" was formulated and issued. Both the IMO 2020 sulfur limit regulations and the \"dual carbon\" goals are driving the green transformation of the shipping industry. Faced with the urgent pressure to reduce environmental emissions, researching new energy propulsion technologies that are clean, efficient, and sustainable has become an important direction for the development of green ships. Due to the specific operating conditions in the marine sector, technical suitability is given greater emphasis there compared to the automotive industry. There are relatively few areas where lithium and hydrogen technologies can be used interchangeably in ships; especially in scenarios involving long distances, heavy loads, and extended operation times, lithium-powered ships struggle to meet the required demands. In the marine sector, there is greater international optimism regarding the prospects of hydrogen and hydrogen-based energy sources (such as ammonia). Compared to other energy solutions, hydrogen fuel cells feature high efficiency, no pollution, low noise, and minimal vibration; these advantages have drawn the attention of countries around the world as well as major shipbuilding companies.
In Xi’an, China, there is a facility that uses hydrogen; it seems sodium hydride is employed there. I wonder which is more convenient, sodium borohydride or sodium hydride?
Hydrogen energy is one of the important directions for future renewable energy, but it is also crucial to know where hydrogen comes from; only green hydrogen represents the way forward