Hydrogenious and Ostensjo to develop LOHC propulsion system through Enova funding

German-based Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies GmbH and Norway based Johannes Ostensjo dy AS have established Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime AS, a joint venture company, with the aim to develop and commercialise emission-free liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC)-based applications for shipping.

The JV aims to develop a new emission-free onboard propulsion system for the global shipping industry by 2025. The focus is on onboard LOHC/fuel cell propulsion systems on a megawatt-scale. Moreover, Hydrogenious’ LOHC applies to conventional bunkering facilities onboard and in the ports.

The funding agency Enova, owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, to support the JV’s initial project HyNjord with NOK 26 million (€ 2.5 million). HyNjord focuses on developing a 200 kW pilot of the LOHC/fuel cell propulsion system. The planned application will integrate three core components onboard:

• The LOHC Release Unit, which releases hydrogen from the liquid organic carrier Benzyltoluene on-demand on the ship
• A fuel cell
• An interface to the ship’s power management system.

Hydrogenious LOHC Technology GmbH has developed and patented the LOHC technology for a particularly safe, easy and efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen. By binding, the hydrogen to the LOHC will be a safe technology and can be used to store and transport large quantities of hydrogen using the already existing fossil fuel infrastructure.

Dr Daniel Teichmann, CEO of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies and the JV’s Chairman of the Board, said, “The strategic planning for the new type of service operation vessel with LOHC was already a done deal at Edda Wind.”

He further explained, “Based on an exclusive worldwide licence agreement, Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime AS will make our proprietary LOHC technology available for onboard solutions for sustainable maritime traffic, i.e. develop, final assembly and market integrate carbon-free propulsion systems and offer aftermarket and other related services.”

Havard Framnes, Investment Director in Ostensjo Group, said, “Of all the potential zero-emission technologies, we find LOHC the most promising one. That is why we have prepared all six service operation vessels under construction in our subsidiary, Edda Wind, for LOHC-based propulsion.”

Oyvind Leistad, Marketing Director in Enova, said, “The HyNjord LOHC-project will give us valuable information in order to contribute for hydrogen to become a real alternative to fossil fuels.”