The waterborne and hydrogen sector have reached out to each other in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Together, they will identify opportunities for hydrogen-related technologies for shipping. As a decarbonised energy carrier and a zero-emission fuel, hydrogen could be a key enabler of zero-emission shipping.
In line with the European Commission’s 2050 long term decarbonisation strategy, the waterborne sector is determined to reduce its environmental impact and is committed to transform itself into a zero-emission mode of transport by 2050 latest. Hydrogen could play a large role in this transition process.
Scaling up of Hydrogen Technologies
Hydrogen Europe and the Waterborne Technology Platform have now signed an MoU on 13 May to identify opportunities for hydrogen-related technologies. At the same time, the MoU will help them both to explore the contribution of the waterborne sector in scaling up the development of hydrogen technologies in ports and industrial zones, in synergy with other sectors (for example energy intensive industries) and other modes of transport.
Hydrogen Has Great Potential
Hydrogen is an energy carrier, a fuel and a raw material, which, if produced adequately, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen energy independence and mitigate the challenges posed by variability and intermittency of renewable energy systems as it offers a clean, sustainable, and flexible option to convert renewable electricity into a chemical energy carrier for use in mobility, heat and industrial applications.
In a first reaction, the Chairman of the Waterborne Technology Platform, Henk Prins, said ‘As a diversified sector – both in terms of ship size, ship types and ship distances – waterborne transport will be dependent on various types of energy as marine fuel to reach its goal to become a zero-emission mode of transport. Hydrogen clearly has the potential to become one of these energy types and I am therefore glad that Hydrogen Europe and the Waterborne Technology Platform have signed today’s MoU.’
Picture: As a zero-emission fuel, hydrogen can play a role in reducing shipping's harmful emissions (picture by Roberto Venturini).
