The Interreg North-West Europe project H2SHIPS will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of hydrogen bunkering and propulsion for shipping and will identify the conditions for successful market entry for the technology. Two pilot projects will be implemented as part of H2SHIPS: A new hydrogen powered port vessel will be built in Amsterdam and in Belgium, ancillary equipment will be erected to power wind farm maintenance vessels and ensure safe and efficient operation of a newly built hydrogen refuelling station. A further major output will be an action plan for the implementation of an H2SHIPS pilot on the river Seine in Paris after the end of the project. H2SHIPS will demonstrate the added value of H2 for water transport and develop a blueprint for its adoption across North-West Europe, avoiding considerable GHG-emissions.
The Project has a total budget of € 6.33 million and receives € 3,47 million from from Interreg North-West Europe between 2019 and 2022. H2SHIPS has 13 Partners from 5 countries and is coordinated by Europäisches Institut für Energieforschung.
Long Term Effects
By the end of the project H2SHIPS expects to have created the necessary conditions for uptake of its technologies by 2% of the fleet renewal (retrofit or new) with positive impact on cross-sector industry uptake. This will lead to the creation of several jobs every year.
EIFER is a widely recognized energy research institute, with more than 110 employees from 14 different nationalities, showing multidisciplinary know-how and competencies, involved in many European, national and regional projects on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen. EIFER is part of the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, bridging the gap between academics and industries on advanced technologies.
www.eifer.kit.edu/
Hynamics, a subsidiary of the French energy provider EDF created in 2019, aims at offering effective low-carbon hydrogen for industry and mobility. Hynamics installs runs and maintains hydrogen production plants by investing int the necessary infrastructure and helps link up different areas with H2 refueling stations for vehicles, trains, busses, lories and vessels.
www.hynamics.com
The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The university hosts the Centre for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research focusing on research and development, applications and demonstrations of fuel cell and hydrogen systems and technologies and a Centre for Doctoral Training in Fuel Cells and their fuels which are both internationally recognized for their expertise.
www.birmingham.ac.uk
The Amsterdam Port Authority manages, operates and develops the port, its infrastructure, maritime activities and industrial facilities in the Amsterdam-Noordzeekanaal-Ijmuiden region. It ensures a safe, swift and environmentally responsible management of shipping traffic within its working area. In the entire Amsterdam port region a yearly amount of over 94 million tons of goods is being transshipped.
www.iala-aism.org/organisation/port-authority-of-amsterdam/
The Maritime Transport Technology department of Delft University of Technology conducts R&D activities covering the design, build, operation of marine transport systems and their equipment.
www.tudelft.nl/en/3me/departments/maritime-and-transport-technology/
Navalu is an French shipbuilder. It designs, builds and ensures the maintenance of innovative aluminium boats. Navalu built the first H2 powered passenger ship and was highly involved in the procedure to obtain a navigation certificate.
www.navalu.fr/
SYCTOM’s activity is divided in three main actions: (i) Over 2,3 Mtons household’s waste treatment in the central area of the French Capital Region Ile-de-France; (ii) Management of 9 treatment facilities : waste-to-energy plants and sorting centers; (iii) Developing all kind of sustainable actions and support activities in order to increase selective collections (biowaste and packaging waste) promoting re-use and waste prevention.
www.syctom-paris.fr/accueil.html
Ports of Paris' mission is to develop inland waterway freight and passenger transport in Ile-de-France through the development, maintenance and operation of port facilities in Ile-de-France. The environmental policy of Port of Paris is characterized by a systematic search for the least environmental impact and the implementation of effective and ambitious solutions for the protection of natural environments and enhancement of the city-port interfaces in its social and urban dimensions.
www.haropaports.com/en/paris
AGHO is an energy port, specializing in the production of renewable energy - both onshore and offshore production sites - including biomass, biofuel, and biosteam and the production of algae. A lot of investments go to circular economy projects, including heat recovery. Port of Oostende has a joint venture with University of Gent and Regional Development Agency to create an incubator center for blue industry and renewable energy, developing and testing new technologies in a towing tank.
www.portofoostende.be/
S2i is a 100 % spin-off of Steinbeis-Innovation gGmbH, a non-profit organisation devoted to technology transfer, within the Steinbeis Foundation for Economic Promotion. S2i core business focusses on technology transfer and exploitation of projects results through communication, dissemination and definition of business models. S2i has a strong experience in community building, foresight, roadmapping and outreach activities. S2i supports companies, municipalities and authorities.
www.steinbeis-europa.de/
Hydrogen Europe is an umbrella association representing the European Industry, Research, and National and Regional Associations in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell sector. It brings together various industry players, large companies and SMEs, who support the roll-out of hydrogen and fuel cells technologies, thus contributing to Europe’s low carbon economy. It represents the views of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry in EU and develop, together with its members, materials and position papers.
www.hydrogeneurope.eu/
Transport & Environment’s mission is to promote, at EU and global level, a transport policy based on the principles of sustainable development. Transport policy should minimise harmful impacts on the environment and health, maximise efficiency of resources, including energy and land, and guarantee safety and sufficient access for all. Its work focuses on areas where European and global policies have the potential to achieve the greatest environmental benefits.
www.transportenvironment.org/
Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations in 26 countries and commercial offices in over 35 countries. The Tata group was founded on the principle that its activities should always benefit society. IJmuiden Tata Steel’s IJmuiden plant is located on the North Sea Coast of the Netherlands and produces organic and metallic coated strip products. The plant is in the top five of Worldsteel’s environmental benchmark of 52 global steel makers.
www.tatasteeleurope.com/de/
45 Rue Kleber
Levallois-Perret
92309
France
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
7 De Ruijterkade
Amsterdam
1013 AA
Netherlands
2 Mekelweg
Delft
2628 CD
Netherlands
35 boulevard de Sébastopol
Paris
75001
France
34 Boulevard de Boisguilbert - B.P. 4075
Rouen
76022 cedex 3
France
2 Slijkensesteenweg
Oostende
8400
Belgium
35 Kienestrasse
Stuttgart
70174
Germany
56-60 Avenue de la Toison d' Or
Brussels
1060
Belgium
18 Square de Meeûs - 2nd floor
Brussels
1050
Belgium
Postbus 10.000
IJmuiden
1970 CA
Netherlands
11 Emmy Noether Strasse
Karlsruhe
76131
Germany
Lead partner
| Organisation | Address | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIfER Europäisches Institut für Energieforschung EDF-KIT EWIV |
11 Emmy Noether Strasse Karlsruhe 76131 Germany |
berthon@eifer.org | www.eifer.kit.edu/ |
| Name | Contact Name | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hynamics | Christelle Rouillé | Christelle.rouille@edf.fr | France |
| University of Birmingham | Robert Steinberger-Wilckens | R.SteinbergerWilckens@bham.ac.uk | United Kingdom |
| Amsterdam Port Authority | Jan Egbertsen | Jan.Egbertsen@portofamsterdam.com | Netherlands |
| Delft University of Technology | Klaas Visser | K.Visser@tudelft.nl | Netherlands |
| SYCTOM | Frédérique David | david@syctom-paris.fr | France |
| HAROPA | Cédric Virciglio | cedric.virciglio@haropaports.com | France |
| Port of Ostend | Wim Stubbe | Wim.Stubbe@portofoostende.be | Belgium |
| Steinbeis 2i GmbH | Paul Haering | paul.haering@steinbeis-europa.de | Germany |
| HYDROGEN EUROPE | Michael Diderich | m.diderich@hydrogeneurope.eu | Belgium |
| Transport & Environment | Faig Abbasov | faig.abbasov@transportenvironment.org | Belgium |
| Tata Steel Europe | Gerard Jägers | Gerard.Jagers@Tatasteeleurope.com | Netherlands |
Why H2SHIPS?
Reducing GHG emissions in the transport sector is crucial for climate change and air quality. Water transport plays a key role for persons and goods in North-West Europe, which concentrates 84% of European inland freight. However, almost 100 % of inland vessels are fuelled by gasoil which, similar to diesel, emits CO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). Inland waterways and maritime transport sectors thus have large potentials to become more environmentally friendly.
The Hydrogen Solution
Advantages of hydrogen propulsion technologies over conventional combustion engines are considerable: Hydrogen can be converted into mechanical or electrical energy completely free of any emission. In addition, hydrogen propulsion systems operate silently and require less maintenance.
Hydrogen propulsion is already close to full market maturity and is the only option that allows total decarbonisation of waterborne transport with high efficiency and high energy density. Its uptake requires dedicated infrastructure, close to end users.
With predictable routes and proximity with other industries, water transport proves particularly well suited to hydrogen solutions. H2SHIPS aims to kick-start the necessary value chain.
Main Project Outputs:
Two pilot projects will be implemented as part of H2SHIPS: A hydrogen powered port vessel will be built in Amsterdam and in Belgium, in Belgium, infrastructure and equipment will be built to power a H2 refuelling station in the Port of Ostend.
Pilot 1 - Amsterdam
The objective of this pilot is to demonstrate the feasibility of operating an inland port vessel with hydrogen as a fuel. The 20 meter long vessel will operate both in urban areas (Amsterdam's canals) as well as in the seaport area between Amsterdam and IJmuiden. The vessel will be completely emission-free and silent, operating with a battery and a fuel cell. Sodiumborohydrid will be used as hydrogen carrier, a powder (to be) diluted in water, which should guarantee a safe storage with a high flame point. The operational sailing experience with this innovative hydrogen storage should enable a quick implementation of this technology on board of other ship types, like inland vessels. Port of Amsterdam (PoA) will lead the pilot. PoA will contract the equipment, build the ship and operate it in the Amsterdam port area. Tata Steel will bring its expertise as a supply chain operator to this project. University of Birmingham will provide technical and engineering assistance for the adaptation of the propulsion system and carry out assessment studies. TU Delft provides and coordinates the body of knowledge for system components, hydrogen generation implementation and the integration and testing of the system on shore and on board. TU Delft will furthermore facilitate the transfer of the demonstrator technology and design towards a separate inland cargo vessel demonstrator, chartered by TATA Steel and operated by PTC, owner of the ship.
The brochure for the new Port of Amsterdam hydrogen vessel, HS Neo Orbis, can be found here.
In January 2023, the construction of the Neo Orbis began at the Dutch Shipyard Next Generation. Read about this exciting milestone here.
Pilot 2 - Ostend
The objective of this pilot is to erect ancillary equipment (electric infrastructure and safety equipment) needed for the operation of a newly built hydrogen refuelling station for maintenance vessels of the offshore wind farms. The wind farm supplies the port with green electricity which will then be used to produce green hydrogen. The pilot therefore fills an important gap in the overall hydrogen infrastructure of the port. H2SHIPS partner Port of Ostend oversees the construction of the refuelling station. The Interreg NWE project ISHY will deliver the core elements of the bunkering station. The pilot consists of two main steps: the finalisation of the design studies by June 2022 and the construction of the refuelling station with its commissioning expected to take place in February 2023.
In July 2022, the Hydrocat 48 - the crew transfer vessel with a hydrogen-diesel dual engine - was commissioned and has been bunkering hydrogen at the port since then. More information, here.
Image source: CMB.Tech
Below you can find all public outputs of the project such as newsletters and public deliverables.
In July 2023 the H2SHIPS project officially ends, after more than four years of transnational collaboration to promote hydrogen as a fuel for clean shipping. We proudly look back at the work achieved and know it is still a long way before zero-emission ships can be seen on all European waterways. Read More
Our new project video is online! Read More
As part of the European Maritime Day 2023 in Brest, H2SHIPS co-organised a workshop titled "Decarbonising European Ports with Hydrogen". The workshop speakers all addressed the critical role that hydrogen can play in reducing emissions in the maritime sector, especially the port's infrastructure. Organised by BDI and Steinbeis 2i, the event aimed to showcase ongoing projects, present innovative solutions, and facilitate discussions among key stakeholders. Read More
The H2SHIPS partner Port of Amsterdam is proud to announce the keel laying - meaning the start of construction - for the Neo Orbis. Read More
The H2SHIPS project organised a seminar on hydrogen applications for shipping on October 26th in Brussels in the frame of the EU hydrogen week. The event was followed by a joint lunch. The presentations of the event are available in the event section. Read More
Young researchers, students working on their Bachelor's, Master's and PhD theses, are in the periphery of the H2SHIPS project all the time. We took the summer time to highlight the work of two of them - Ana Carolina Alves (TU Delft) and Eli van Witsen (Port of Amsterdam). Read More
After a long European tender process, the H2SHIPS partners of Port of Amsterdam have selected Next Generation Shipyards from Lauwersoog to build the hydrogen vessel HS Neo Orbis. Read More
On June 27th and 28th, the H2SHIPS consortium gathered in Brussels for two days of meeting and workshop sessions aimed at facilitating knowledge exchange on the progress of the pilots in Belgium and the Netherlands and developing action plans for the upcoming and final deliverables. Read More
The third edition of the H2SHIPS Newsletter gives an overview of the current developments of the H2SHIPS project and partners: the 6-month extension, updates from the pilot ports and action plan in Paris, as well as upcoming events - including the next H2SHIPS seminar. Read More
The H2SHIPS project partner and pilot port, Port of Amsterdam, has launched a public tender for the construction of its new representative vessel, the Neo Orbis. Read More
We are thrilled to invite you to the final conference of the Interreg NWE H2SHIPS project. As the project nears its completion, we look forward to have you join us for an afternoon of insightful discussions, engaging presentations, and valuable networking opportunities.
Read More
Online meeting, 21.06.2023 from 15:00 to 16:00 CEST
Hynamics, HAROPA ports, Syctom and EIFER are pleased to invite you to a webinar to present the results of a study carried out as part of the Interreg NWE H2SHIPS project focusing on the Seine axis in Paris.
Read More
As part of the European Maritime Day 2023 in Brest, H2SHIPS is co-organising a workshop titled "Decarbonising European Ports with Hydrogen".
Read More
As part of the European Hydrogen Week 2022 in Brussels, H2SHIPS (an Interreg North-West Europe project) presents a seminar that will highlight ongoing developments in the field of hydrogen-fuelled shipping, and will include insights into our project activities and the progress of the pilot projects in Ostend and Amsterdam.
Read More
The Interreg North-West Europe H2SHIPS is pleased to invite you to a seminar in English, followed by a lunch cruise, which will take place on 29th October 2021 from 11:00 to 14:00 in Paris.
Read More
The exhibition, to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 22, 23, 24, 2021, is dedicated solely to showcasing the very latest and next-generation electric and hybrid marine charging and propulsion technologies, components and solutions.
Read More
The forthcoming workshop will deal equally with issues relative to Fuel Cells and Electrolysers and is is co-organized by FORTH/ICEHT, the University of Birmingham (UoB) and the Horizon 2020, FCH2-JU NewSOC project.
Read More
Attend the conference and be part of the green revolution on the water.
Hosted and co-organizeed by the Hamburg Port Authority / Flotte Hamburg.
Read More
Hydrogen Days 2020: Are you interested in recent progress made in hydrogen technologies in Europe and worldwide?
Would you like to meet colleagues and have an opportunity to discuss your latest results, or to find partners for collaboration?
Or, are you simply interested in developments in the exciting field of hydrogen technologies?
Read More
Hydrogen Technology Conference & Expo is Europe’s must-attend conference and exhibition that is exclusively dedicated to discussing advanced technologies for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.
Read More
Visit the H2SHIPS Platform! https://h2ships.org/
It is a comprehensive Knowledge Exchange Platform.
This platform will gather all the information and findings from the project for the stakeholder for H2 in water transport. Its aim is to stimulate the community-building for H2 in the water transport sector by providing information and news on H2 development.
