Provaris Energy is pleased to report the preliminary results for meeting Europe’s Renewable Energy Directive II  emissions standards for bulk hydrogen shipping using its proprietary H2Neo carrier on a round-trip between Norway and Germany.

Implemented in December 2018, RED II sets stringent emissions standards aimed at fostering the use of renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the European Union. RED II mandates that by 2030, at least 32% of the EU’s energy consumption must come from renewable sources.

A key component of RED II is its requirement for the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass fuels to be significantly lower than the fossil fuel alternatives they replace. Specifically, for hydrogen production, the emission threshold is set at 28.2 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule (g CO2e/MJ) of hydrogen, ensuring that the production and supply chain processes adhere to sustainable practices.

Wärtsilä supported the analysis with a proposal for alternative propulsion plant configurations, together with Provaris’ own analysis on fuel consumption and carbon emissions – over a range of sailing speeds and fuel types.

The analysis undertaken by Provaris, based on a round-trip schedule between Norway and Germany using the H2Neo carrier:

Provaris Chief Technical Officer, Per Roed, commented: “These positive results highlight our ongoing efforts to optimize our hydrogen supply chain to not only meet but exceed the stringent requirements set forth by the EU’s RED II and RFNBO. The hybrid electric propulsion system developed with Wärtsilä provides a highly efficient solution today while ensuring a maximum level of flexibility to introduce alternative fuels and new technologies such as fuel cells in the future. We are dedicated to pioneering sustainable energy solutions and these advancements are a testament to the hard work and innovation of our team.”

The key outcomes of the analysis were:

• 3rd Party Support / Analysis: Wärtsilä supported Provaris in estimating the CO2e emission per kg H2 according to their emission factors, including methane slip values from test bed.
• Use of available propulsion configurations: the estimated emissions were based on a proposed H2Neo hybrid electric propulsion plant with modern 4-stroke LNG Dual Fuel generating sets. Options for future hydrogen blending have been assessed based on existing generator set options, and further for when fuel cell / and generating set technology matures.
• Low Emission Intensity: at a typical sailing speed of 13 knots, the carbon (equivalent) intensity was estimated at 7.6g CO2e / MJ H2 (or 0.92 kg CO2e / kgH2) for the proposed ”LNG +pilot” propulsion plant over a 1,600 nautical mile roundtrip (800 nautical miles one way).
• Satisfied EU REDII requirements: the estimated emission level of 7.6 g CO2e/ MJ H2 was well below the 28.2 g CO2e/ MJ level required for EU REDII compliance.
• Improvements through integration of future technologies: The hybrid electric propulsion concept enables easy integration of future technologies. Wärtsilä also modelled a potential future scenario involving the integration of a 3,000 kW hydrogen fuel cell into the propulsion plant, which would further reduce emissions by 20 to 30%, depending on the operating profile.

Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine added: “In just 25 years – the lifetime of a single vessel – shipping must eliminate its contribution to climate change. To aid in the industry’s energy transition, we, at Wärtsilä, remain dedicated to the testing and development of technologies and solutions aimed for low and zero carbon marine fuels. Increasingly electrified and hybridised propulsion systems will emerge to safeguard the necessary flexibility to introduce new decarbonisation technologies during the vessel’s lifetime.

“We are fully aligned with Provaris’ vision to accelerate the maritime industry towards net-zeroemissions shipping, with these positive results underscoring our joint commitment to supportingthe industry’s sustainable future.”