The hydrogen technology promises drive without exhaust gases. In order to be able to use the element, a hydrogen ship travels from Australia to Japan for the first time.
Hastings – According to the government in Canberra, Australia, a “world premiere” for hydrogen technology was celebrated: the ship “Suiso Frontier” was filled with liquid hydrogen in January, which it is to transport to Japan. Supporters of the technology hope that the fuel will one day replace liquid gas. It is the first time that hydrogen has been liquefied and taken to another country at sea.
In order to be able to transport as much hydrogen as possible at once, it has to be brought into a liquid state. To do this, it is cooled down to minus 253 degrees Celsius, as the AFP news agency writes. The process is complicated, expensive and energy-intensive – but hydrogen has a volume 800 times smaller in liquid form than in gaseous form. The 116 meter long ship can transport 1250 cubic meters of liquid hydrogen in its tank.
Hydrogen ship transports Element at sea for the first time
“This is a historic day and the start of an industry that will shape the future of global energy supply,” said Australian Energy Minister Angus Taylor. “Suiso Frontier” is part of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC)a joint Japanese-Australian project to provide Japan with enough cheap hydrogen.
Hydrogen is a sought-after element when it comes to clean energy. Car manufacturers such as Toyota and railway companies such as Deutsche Bahn also want to run vehicles with hydrogen. Because when it is burned to generate energy, only water vapor is produced and no other exhaust gases – a property that makes the substance an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. However, hydrogen is only climate-neutral if it is produced using renewable energies. This is not the case in Australia, where lignite is currently used. This largely negates the positive effects on the environment, writes AFP.
Hydrogen: Loaded ship makes its way to Japan
The Australian government remains firmly behind the mining of coal, an industry in which many Australians work. “Today’s shipload was produced with coal,” emphasized the Australian Minister for Natural Resources, Keith Pitt, in January. “It’s a regional product and it creates jobs in the region.”
The ship left the Australian port of Hastings on January 28, 2022 and is en route to the Japanese city of Kobe. The “Suiso Frontier” should arrive in mid to late February, where the hydrogen will be loaded into suitable tanks on land.
“Suiso Frontier”: Ship brings hydrogen from Australia to Japan
If the test drive is successful, Australia and Japan plan to expand the project. From 2030, the cooperation should then enter a commercial phase. A new terminal will then be built in Japan and larger ships will be built.
The HESC project has a total volume of 500 million Australian dollars (about 318 million euros) and is funded by Japan and Australia to generate cleaner energy and reduce emissions, as WirtschaftsWoche reports. According to the company, the project is intended to create 30,000 jobs in the long term. (ial/AFP)
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