The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) joined Korean industry leaders in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to produce a feasibility study for a near-shore floating platform of green hydrogen production and liquefaction.

ABS was accompanied by Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH); HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), part of HD Hyundai Group; Linde and Linde Korea.

The study is the latest in ABS’ work to support green hydrogen production, which includes an approval in principle (AIP) for HD Hyundai Group’s offshore green hydrogen production platform.

The Korean government is supporting commercial-scale production of green hydrogen, with the expectation of increasing energy self-efficiency. The feasibility study will be included in a report from the Jeolla Province to determine the viability of developing a green hydrogen production and liquification facility at a near-shore floating platform utilizing off-shore wind-power.

Panos Koutsourakis, ABS Vice President, Global Sustainability, said, “Green hydrogen is a critical component in any Net Zero scenario. ABS is leading the maritime industry in decarbonization and sustainability solutions, contributing our technical knowledge to develop comprehensive studies such as this one.”

Euijoon Yoon, Ph.D., President of KENTECH, highlighted the industry-university cooperation with Linde, HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering and ABS. He said, “We will strive to achieve this, and through this endeavour to create important value technically and economically.”

Sungjoon Kim, HD Hyundai Group Chief Technology Officer, said it was pleased to contribute to the development of the green hydrogen production platform through this MOU, utilising its many years of experience with offshore platform technologies and liquefied gas carriers.

He said, “HD Hyundai Group will play a key role in contributing to the carbon-neutral era such as the development of green hydrogen production platforms.”

Baek-Suk Sung, CEO of Linde Korea, said the commercialisation of floating platforms for clean hydrogen production will increase Korea’s energy independence and contribute to the clean energy transition.

Jihyun Hwang, Managing Director of Fraunhofer Innovation Platform (FIP) – Hydrogen Energy at KENTECH, said it is a valuable opportunity to develop a new concept green hydrogen production and liquefaction platform, jointly researched and developed with HD KSOE over the past year through an industry-academic project, into commercialisation technology with Linde.

He said, “Through this joint research and development with Linde, HD KSOE, and ABS, we will do our best so that the ‘near-shore floating green hydrogen and liquefaction platform’ technology can be applied to the Shinan green hydrogen energy island project in Jeollanam-do.”

Source:H2 VIEW