Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with H2Terminals Limited to investigate the viability of a green hydrogen (H2) infrastructure project in the UK.
Parties will work on floating H2 production and transport, as well as identifying regulatory needs, such as safety cases and risk assessments, for the establishment of an offshore island and supply chain that would offer green electricity to enterprises in the Thames Estuary and River.
The initiative, along with the businesses it will assist, is part of the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s action plan to bring investment and growth to the area.
Plans are for the construction of a wind, wave, and solar energy facility 100 kilometres offshore. Green H2 created on the floating island will be transformed into liquid form and carried by ship to a terminal in the Thames Estuary near London.
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H2 is carried to floating barges and turned into energy, hot water, and byproducts like liquid nitrogen and oxygen. Batteries installed on the barges will store power as it travels to its final destination.
The MoU also includes a formal technical evaluation, such as asset design development, containment system validation, and floating hydrogen production and energy export systems.
This project’s assets will contain authorised materials capable of retaining and insulating green liquid H2 at -253 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, the MoU will establish an assurance plan for floating hydrogen production, hydrogen ships, categorisation, and energy export systems.
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Mark Tipping, Power to X Director at LR said: “This ambitious green hydrogen project, underpinned by the combined expertise of LR, H2 Terminals, HiDROGEN and D3IM, will help create a sustainable logistics network along the River Thames and lay the foundations for industry to develop.”
Gerry Wilkinson, CEO at H2Terminals stated: “We will be offering thirty-year Power Purchasing Agreements direct to industry and utility companies as well as participating in the trading and capacity markets.
“The UK government has set an ambitious target for low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 and we look forward to working with the Growth Board, London & Partners, Lloyd’s Register, HiDROGEN and D3IM to help realise this ambition.”
