Hydrogen Valleys – EU invests in several hydrogen projects in the Baltic Sea
Many hydrogen-related projects are currently underway and more will follow as the EU's Clean Hydrogen Partnerships will fund several so-called ‘Hydrogen Valleys’. Here we learn more about one of these - BalticSeaH2, which focuses on the Baltic Sea. Ellinor Forsström is a project manager at the unit for maritime transport and logistics systems at the research institute RISE, which is involved in the work of BalticSeaH2.
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In total, BalticSeaH2 has 35 partners working to create an integrated hydrogen economy around the Baltic Sea, to enable energy self-sufficiency and minimize carbon dioxide emissions from various industries. RISE and Uppsala University are collaborating on how hydrogen will be handled in ports, with a focus on the filling* (bunkering) of ships.
Ellinor Forsström explains;
– Together with Uppsala University, we at RISE are responsible for a partial delivery to develop a virtual environment over a hydrogen bunker station. We will develop an XR system (Extended Reality) with the aim of visualizing risks and safety measures linked to hydrogen filling to gain a deeper understanding of the processes and create a platform for training.
Why is this project needed?
– Hydrogen has huge potential, but there are some issues related to filling and storing hydrogen that we need to overcome. We need to test and develop different solutions for what this could actually look like in the future.
What are the challenges for the large-scale use of hydrogen as a maritime fuel?
– Apart from the fact that the production of fossil-free hydrogen obviously needs to be scaled up, it is precisely the infrastructure around it that needs to be solved. We need common standards for handling both filling and storage of hydrogen. The infrastructure around ports is the responsibility of local authorities and there are different regional requirements throughout the country. To facilitate this work, there should be national coordination to make it easier for both ports and shipowners. Quite simply, we need to work together.
When will we be able to see some results from the project you are doing together with Uppsala University?
– The overall project will be completed in 2027, but our ambition is for the XR project to be rolled out several years earlier. Right now, our working hypothesis is to use the ship Gotland Horizon as a case for the filling, which feels very exciting. The insights we gain from this project can also help Gotlandsbolaget to realize its vision of hydrogen-powered passenger and cargo ships in the Gotland traffic.
*The term bunkering has traditionally been used in contexts where fossil fuels are discussed, which means that bunkering is associated with fossil fuels. As we move from fossil to fossil-free, we need other terms that are not as clearly associated with fossil. Filling is one such term that is not as well established but is used for fossil-free fuels.