Hydrogen transport trial

In a bid to show the path available for the maritime sector to decarbonise, the demonstration will convert a Lochin 33 'workboat' into a dual-fuelled vessel acting as a testbed to prove the concept of a retro-fit green hydrogen solution. 

For the purposes of the demonstration, the modified marine vessel will operate at sea, though the technologies are suitable for use by inland waterway vessels. The project is expected to take seven months, with trials running in Spring 2022.

This ambitious project seeks to prove that a solution does exist, by operating – for at least three months - a concept demonstration vessel using a clean, safe, green-hydrogen marine transport solution in the controlled environment of the Port of Middlesbrough.

The Government's expectation is that by 2025 all new vessels ordered for use in UK waters are designed with zero emission capability. However, there are some 65,000 small ships currently in operation with a normal life expectancy of 50 years, which means there has to be an affordable retro-fit solution.

For more information, visit www.trl.co.uk