HAV Hydrogen – a subsidiary of HAV Group ASA – will start manufacturing the Zero Emission Pod H2 containers during the second half of 2023, aiming for first deliveries in 2024.

Kristian Osnes, Managing Director of HAV Hydrogen, said the AiP is based on a 20-foot container that not only contains hydrogen fuel cells, but also equipment required to safely run it, including ventilation, cooling, safety systems, control system, DC/DC drives, fuel distribution system and other technical installations.

By using 200kW hydrogen fuel cells, the system is flexible and can provide 1,000kW within the footprint of a standard 20-foot container. By combining multiple containers, using larger modules or dedicated space below deck, multi megawatt energy systems will also be available.

Installed effect can be used for the main propulsion systems, or for additional power supply on board the vessel to comply with green operation standards. Output effect will be dimensioned to provide optimal zero emission power in desired operating situations, sailing patterns and vessel type.

Quayside, the hydrogen system can ensure sufficient green power supply to the vessel, which does not need to rely on onshore charging infrastructure to achieve zero emission status.

Osnes added, “The H2 system is a simple yet effective enabler of green shipping. It can either be utilised as a retrofit option for vessels that have not already been prepared for a conventional retrofit installation below deck, or as a complete plug-in module that de-risks the yard installation for newbuilds.”

The AiP means that the H2 system has been assessed by DNV and found to comply with the current rules of the class society and applicable statutory regulations. Further, it confirms that the design is feasible and that no significant obstacles exist to prevent it from being realized.

The basis for DNV’s AiP is compliance with the safety principles of DNV rules for fuel cell installations, gas fuelled ship installations, containerised systems, the IGF Code, and IMO interim guidelines for the safety of ships using fuel cell power installations.

Monika Johannessen, Head of Department – Gas Technology, Piping & Safety at DNV, said, “To keep shipping relevant over the long term, we need every possible option on the table and hydrogen can be an important part of the shift towards more sustainable shipping.”

The system is designed for operation in air temperatures between –20 to +35 C° and seawater temperature from 0 C° to +32C°.

Osnes said there is significant interest from shipowners in multiple industry sectors.

“They acknowledge that our containerised solution can be the quick route to zero emission for their vessel types. Given that necessary infrastructure is in place, all a shipowner needs to do is to clear sufficient deck space and hook it up to the vessel’s power system,” she said.

According to international vessel databases, including Sea-web and the European Commission’s Market Observation Inland Navigation in Europe, there are approximately 2,500 short sea cargo vessels, 7,000 inland water cargo vessels, 1,300 passenger transport vessels and 2,500 fishery vessels in Europe alone.