A consortium led by zero-emission vessel provider ACUA Ocean in partnership with zero-emission infrastructure provider Unitrove has won a £3.8m ($4.6m) UK government grant.
The Hydrogen Innovation – Future Infrastructure & Vessel Evaluation and Demonstration (HI-FIVED) consortium will receive funding to build and showcase an autonomous vessel and bunkering infrastructure technologies for liquid hydrogen.
The £5.4m project is expected to be delivered in autumn of 2024 and aims to establish a domestic green shipping corridor between Aberdeen and the Orkney and Shetland Islands, with hydrogen-powered autonomous ships being used to transport cargo.
The HI-FIVED consortium involves the Port of Aberdeen, the University of Southampton, Zero Emissions Maritime Technology, Composite Manufacturing and Design, Trident Marine Electrical, and NASH Maritime.
Unitrove, creator of the world’s first liquid hydrogen bunkering facility, will look to deploy its mobile fuelling technology at the Port of Aberdeen in support of ACUA Ocean’s bid to build and operate the world’s first maritime autonomous surface ship powered by liquid hydrogen.
Professor of maritime fluid dynamics Stephen Turnock at the University of Southampton, said: “We are excited to play our part helping understand the techno-economic challenges of how autonomous ships can help shift trade to zero-carbon ships and deliver coastal highways.”
