Innovate UK and Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water have invested HyZEM, an international green hydrogen project to drive decarbonisation in the maritime sector.
The HyZEM (Hydrogen Zero Emission Maritime) project aims to demonstrate practical applications for green hydrogen storage and propulsion on vessels, including bunkering technology, port storage, refuelling infrastructure, and how it will support local supply chains.
The partnership includes Freeport East, Steamology as lead, National Composites Centre (NCC), Duodrive Limited, Chartwell Marine Limited and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult. An Australian sister project is led by Rux Energy Australia.
In a statement, Dr Jehan Kanga, founder & CEO of Rux Energy said: “The HyZEM project dovetails two breakthrough technologies, our patented nanoporous hydrogen storage materials from Australia in next generation carbon composite tanks jointly developed between Australia and the UK with Steamology’s novel hydrogen steam turbines from the UK, to create a fully optimised storage and power system for high powered work boats like tug boats and crew transfer vessels.”
Innovate UK has provided £1.44m, matched by a similar sum from Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Matt Candy, CEO of Steamology, said: “We are pleased to be working with such talented partners across the hydrogen and marine supply chain and thank InnovateUK for grant funding the opportunity. Steamology delivers scalable and modular solutions for industrial steam heat and power, embracing the hydrogen and circular economies, eliminating emissions, replacing fossil fuels and fossil fuel engines. Steamology is delivering the world’s first zero emission hydrogen steam turbine marine propulsion, 130 years after ‘Turbinia’, the world’s first steam turbine steam ship.”
“Demonstrating the potential of innovative technologies such as hydrogen-storage and hydrogen-fuelled turbines to decarbonise the world’s marine fleet could pave the way for future cost savings and risk reduction benefits for the entire industry, minimising environmental impact and moving us closer to achieving our net zero ambitions,” added Joseph Hewitt, project engineer, Development & Operations, ORE Catapult.