AqualisBraemar LOC Group (ABL Group) has been awarded an innovative research and development (R&D) project, to develop a green hydrogen production barge, under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC).
The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
ABL Group and Longitude Engineering partnership
ABL Group, including group company, Longitude Engineering, will work in a consortium with Green Hydrogen Solutions and Poole Harbour Commissioners, on the concept development and feasibility study for a moored barge to generate, store and provide hydrogen to vessels bunkering, at the same port. The port will store hydrogen produced via electrolysis, using onshore renewables. Poole Harbour will be used as a case study for demonstrating the environmental and commercial viability of the concept.
“We are really excited to embark on this innovative project. The maritime industry contributes to three percent of all greenhouse gas emissions and is hard to abate sector. Technical demonstration of CO2-free powering of ships, when combined with scale, will blaze a trail for the net-zero future,” said Dr. RV Ahilan, the Chief Energy Transition Officer at ABL Group.
Techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen feasibility
The work will make a techno-economic analysis of the feasibility of green hydrogen
The work will make a techno-economic analysis of the feasibility of green hydrogen, as an alternative fuel to power ships, as well as establish the commercial viability for such an application and its potential for expansion to other ports.
“This project is aimed at providing rapid infrastructure for hydrogen production at the point of requirement. Providing ready availability of hydrogen will support its adoption as a viable alternative marine fuel and contribute to the reduction of the sectors’ emissions,” said Dean Goves, Longitude Engineering’s Managing Director for Marine Vessel Design, Defense and Small Craft, Longitude Engineering.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC)
Announced in March 2020 and part of the UK Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan, to position the United Kingdom at the forefront of green shipbuilding and maritime technology, the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) is a £20 million investment from government, alongside a further c. £10m from the industry, to reduce emissions from the maritime sector.
The programme is supporting 55 projects across the United Kingdom, including projects in Scotland, Northern Ireland and from the South West to the North East of England, including ABL Group’s project.
Early stage research relating to clean maritime
As set out in the Clean Maritime Plan (2019), the UK Government funding has been used to support early stage research relating to clean maritime. The programme will be used to support the research, design and development of zero-emission technology and infrastructure solutions for maritime and to accelerate decarbonisation in the sector.
This award follows the appointment of ABL operations in Aberdeen, Scotland this year, to a project with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL), to design AN emission-free fuel-cell, sea-going passenger and car ferry.
