The American Bureau of Shipping has approved the design of Provaris Energy’s proposed 26,000 cubic metre H2Neo compressed hydrogen carriers.
The approval for the green hydrogen transporter, the first of its kind to be approved globally at this level, will allow shipbuilders to provide firm quotations for the construction of a fleet of H2Neo carriers
The carriers are destined to be used on Provatis’ 100,000 tonne a year green hydrogen export project now in the advanced planning stage to be built on the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory.
The company told investors: “Our focus now moves to shipyard selection with world-leading broker Clarksons engaged to conclude a global shipyard identification and selection process in erly 2022.
“Design approval maintains first-mover status for compressed H2 to deliver bulk-scale marine storage and transport solutions for the hydrogen industry, with our target to execute shipbuilding contracts for the H2Neo in late 2023 and commence large-scale hydrogen shipping in 2026.”
Provaris will now progress the development of a design of a larger 120,000 cubic metre H2Max carrier and hydrogen storage barges needed to meet expected future demand for green hydrogen.
Provaris CTO Per Roed said: “The success of our FEED design stage and corresponding approval milestone is the result of extensive design and engineering works by Provaris’ team of discipline experts and consultants that have actively contributed to Provaris’ innovative H2Neo hydrogen carrier.
“Through our close collaboration with ABS throughout this three year process, we are confident that our compressed hydrogen carriers can safely and effectively establish the maritime transportation of hydrogen.”
The company’s Tiwi H2 project includes a solar PV farm, HV transmission cable, hydrogen electrolyser, and hydrogen compression and export facility.