ABS Joins LH2 Containment System Project

ABS is supporting the LH2CRAFT project, an ambitious research initiative funded by the European Union with the goal of revolutionizing liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage on commercial vessels.

Administered by Hydrus Engineering S.A. and Technische Universitat Dresden, the research consortium is comprised of 14 members from nine countries. ABS will review the LH2 containment, handling and distribution systems as part of the process which works toward approval in principle.

The consortium is working to design a membrane-type containment system capable of storing LH2 at -253 °C at a scale up to 200,000m³. The project scope also includes the creation of a 10-tonne (180 m³) prototype to validate the new design.

“Adopting hydrogen as cargo must overcome several technical challenges in addition to the traditional challenges of infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, safety protocols and economic viability. However, these obstacles are balanced by substantial opportunities. In addition to contributing to global efforts to combat climate change, developing a hydrogen value chain can spur technical innovation, create employment opportunities and establish new markets,” said Panos Koutsourakis, ABS Vice President, Global Sustainability.