Project summary
The Nordic countries aim for a carbon-neutral Nordic region. Maritime transport is one of the key remaining sectors to decarbonize and is important from a Nordic perspective due to the relatively large Nordic involvement in this industry. The HOPE project addresses how regional shipping in the Nordic region can do the transition to become fossil-free. The project aims at clarifying the potential role of hydrogen based marine solutions in reducing the Nordic greenhouse gas emissions. In the centre of the project is a ship concept where a typical RORO/ROPAX-vessel with operating distances of around 100 nautical miles is designed for including operation with hydrogen as fuel and fuel cells for energy conversion. For this concept ship also other alternatives such as ammonia as fuel and the use of combustion engines as well as hybrid solutions with batteries are investigated. Further, both the conditions for designing such a ship and the consequences will be studied. The conditions include technical design and costs of fuel systems and handling, powertrains etc. but also an analysis of costs and barriers and drivers for the realisation of such a ship, such as legal issues, and policy issues. Some of these concepts will also be tested on a laboratory scale. Further, the potential of producing and strategies for these fuels in the Nordic region will be reviewed from a shipping perspective. For the consequences the realistic potential for uptake of these technologies/fuels by Nordic shipping and the benefits regarding lower emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants as well as impact on the sea environment are assessed. In terms of drivers, policy options needed to accelerate uptake of hydrogen based marine solutions are assessed.
Progress
Work has begun and progresses in all work packages with emphasis in the previous work packages according to plan. The progress of the project has so far followed the set time plan, project plan and budget. WP1 (Project management and dissemination) report the following. A couple of meetings for all WP leaders and between different work packages have been held to ensure a good start-up and well-functioning collaboration. The first meeting with the advisory board has also been held, with valuable discussions for the project. News about the project have been published by IVL Swedish Environmental Institute and Nordic Energy Research (NER) (https://www.nordicenergy.org/project/nordic-maritime-transport-and-energy-research-programme/ and https://www.ivl.se/toppmeny/press/pressmeddelanden-och-nyheter/nyheter/2021-03-02-nordisk-forskning-analyserar-bransleceller-och-vatgas-for-sjofarten.html). An article about the project has been published and shared by Lighthouse (see https://lighthouse.nu/2021/08/23/hope-inte-hype/) and the webpage of the project has been launched (https://www.ivl.se/projektwebbar/hope.html).
WP2 (Technology options) has started with the assessments on fuel and propulsion technologies and design issues. The first set of input data from WP3 has been processed by WP2. The mapping of plans for production of renewable hydrogen and ammonia in the Nordic countries are being finalized and the first report from WP2 on fuel and propulsion choices is being drafted. Final report is delayed and will be delivered Q1 2022.
WP3 (Concept design) has proposed a draft vessel to be used as basis for the concept design and specified initial input data and data need. The first set of data has been delivered by WP2. WP3 is in close contact to WP2 on the development of the concept design.
WP4 (Laboratory tests and models of concept design/strategy) supports the initial assessments in WP2 and WP3 and provides useful input on assessment methods and will propose a toolbox also to be used by WP2 and WP3.
WP5 (Scenario and Impact analysis) are performing literature and data collection for the cost-benefit assessment, mapping hydrogen related costs from a Nordic and shipping perspective. How to use the MRV data for the scenario and impact assessments is also being explored. The work on cost-effective future fuel choices to be made with the ON Times model has started and currently the need to update the model and associated data need is being mapped.
WP6 (Policy and drivers/barriers for change in the Nordic maritime sector) has identified the main drivers and barriers, including economic, legal and safety aspects associated with the implementation of hydrogen/fuel cells in Nordic shipping initially based on a literature review.
WP6 has also performed a range of interviews with relevant stakeholders in the Nordic countries (identified and selected jointly with the other project partners).
The Nordic countries aim for a carbon-neutral Nordic region. Maritime transport is one of the key remaining sectors to decarbonize and is important from a Nordic perspective due to the relatively large Nordic involvement in this industry.
This project addresses how regional shipping in the Nordic region can do the transition to become fossil-free. The project aims at clarifying the potential role of hydrogen based marine solutions in reducing the Nordic greenhouse gas emissions. In the centre of the project is a ship concept where a typical RORO/ROPAX-vessel with operating distances of around 100 nautical miles is designed for including operation with hydrogen as fuel and fuel cells for energy conversion. For this concept ship other alternatives such as ammonia as fuel and the use of combustion engines and hybrid solutions with batteries will be investigated. Both the conditions for designing such a ship and the consequences will be studied. The conditions include technical design and costs of fuel systems and handling, powertrain system modelling and laboratory validation, and analysis of costs and barriers and drivers for the realisation of such a ship, (safety, legal and policy issues). Further, the potential of producing and strategies for these fuels in the Nordic region will be reviewed from a shipping perspective. For the consequences we will assess the realistic potential for uptake of these technologies/fuels by Nordic shipping and calculate the benefits regarding lower emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants as well as impact on the sea environment. In terms of drivers, policy options needed to accelerate uptake of hydrogen based marine solutions will be assessed. By also a broad range of dissemination activities (including stakeholder workshops, policy briefs, scientific papers and presentations) the project will contribute to strengthened cooperation and knowledge sharing between Nordic stakeholders linked to hydrogen and fuel cell solutions.
