You might think that shopping “locally” is the way forward when it comes to finding a solution for cleaner power, however, the shipping industry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, cargo ships are considered to be part of the solution to help convert so called “dirty fuel” into clean power. The solution may also lie in a return to the old ways of wind power, with a new high-tech assist from green hydrogen.

Wind Power Returns To Cargo Ships 

Whilst some have been debating the return to old ways more than others in recent times, it’s certainly a realistic idea thanks to the introduction of new wind devices in the shipping industry. Back in 2011 CleanTechnica took note of a cargo ship project that paired wind power with solar energy. In 2017 an energy storage system entered the mix, and just last year Finland’s Wärtsilä and Norsepower announced a new funnel-shaped wind power device.

Another development occurred last year, when Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL for short) announced that it and Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. won joint approval for a new telescopic sail design. The idea of a hard sail could help to cut gas emission from ships by as much as 8% if it were to be the distance from going from Japan to Australia. Obviously, it all depends on the length of the trip as to how much total emissions can be cut by, and although 8% doesn’t sound like much to write home about, but if all goes according to plan, more sails will be added and the results will presumably be more impressive.

Green Hydrogen Means Goodbye To Doldrums

 
The above is all well and good, but the fuel savings will evaporate when the ship hits the doldrums. If cargo ships are to use wind power and keep on schedule and reduce greenhouse gas emissions all at the same time, then a substitute for bunker fuel must be found. Enter Green hydrogen to the fore. The idea is to use an on-board green hydrogen production system to power the ship during low wind periods, instead of relying on bunker fuel. Such an idea stems from a project named ‘Wind Hunter’ and it is based on hydrogen being used as a fuel or, a fuel cell from which it can generate electricity. 

Fortunately the cost of renewable energy has dropped, which partly accounts for rapid growth in the green hydrogen market. The falling cost of electrolyzers is also helping to stimulate more interest in sustainable hydrogen.

The combination of both wind power returning to cargo ships and hydrogen being generated from water as a source of electricity has now paved the way for exciting things to come for the ship building industry. 

But Wait, There’s More Green Hydrogen To Come! 

The research team plans to start small, with a feasibility study based on the system’s performance in a sailing yacht. If all goes according to plan, though, the payoff could be huge.

Using green hydrogen to power cargo ships at sea is only part of the plan. Hydrogen is both a fuel and a transportable energy storage medium, which means that excess hydrogen produced at sea could be offloaded for use on land.

If you have ever seen a busy seaport, perhaps you have seen fleets of cargo ships hovering nearby, waiting for their turn to dock. A floating green hydrogen system would put all that idle tonnage to use.

To make matters even more interesting, there is a movement afoot to pair offshore wind turbines with green hydrogen production, which can then be used to make green ammonia, which is a zero emission combustible fuel as well as a main ingredient in fertilizer among many other uses.

The global cargo ship industry is ramping up its decarbonization efforts and green ammonia fuel is already part of the plan.