Linde is participating in a new research project led by researchers from Uppsala University (Campus Gotland) with the aim of developing and securing sustainable solutions for hydrogen in the ferry traffic between Gotland and the Swedish mainland.
Sustainability is an important part of Linde's strategy. Hydrogen plays a key role in the fight against climate change and can replace fossil fuels in many applications, not least in the marine sector.
It is fantastic to have the opportunity to contribute in this concrete way to the transition to sustainable maritime transport. This will lead to a lot of positives for Gotland, Campus Gotland and shipping in general. Through our cooperation with our industrial partners, we add great industry expertise and get good opportunities to see our results realised in the near future," says project manager Björn Samuelsson, researcher in quality technology at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland.
The vision vessel Gotland Horizon is Sweden's first project to create a large-scale hydrogen-powered vessel for both passengers and freight.
Linde has been producing, supplying and selling hydrogen in Sweden for many years and has expertise and technologies throughout the value chain; from production, storage, transport and delivery to the customer's application. Linde has previously run projects in the marine sector, but using hydrogen as an energy carrier in such a large ferry has not been done before.
Together with Uppsala University and the other partners, we are very pleased to contribute to creating opportunities to use hydrogen as a ship fuel. The entire marine sector needs fossil-free fuels," says Stefan Peterson, Sales Manager for Linde in Sweden.
The biggest challenge in producing green hydrogen is the availability of fossil-free electricity, in sufficient quantities and power, at a reasonable cost. We look forward to collaborating in this process to develop and evaluate system solutions for using hydrogen, produced with fossil-free electricity via electrolysis, as fuel for Gotland ferry traffic," says Ola Ritzén, Business Developer Clean Hydrogen, Linde.
In hydrogen production via electrolysis, oxygen is also formed. The oxygen can for example be used to improve the marine environment," concludes Ola Ritzén.
The project will be coordinated with OX2 and IVL's ongoing project on the island of Gotland to investigate the possibility of also using this oxygen to oxygenate the seabed in Burgsviken in Gotland.
About the project
Within its maritime programme, the Swedish Energy Agency has granted a two-year grant of just over SEK 3 million to this research project. The goal is to present a complete, sustainable and reliable fuel system that will be implemented by 2030 in order to be used by the next generation of Gotland ferries. The project is a collaboration between Uppsala University, Rederi AB Gotland/Gotland Tech Development, OX2, Linde Gas, Uniper and Bassoe Technology. The research is led by Björn Samuelsson, researcher in quality technology and Stefan Ivanell, professor of wind energy research (deputy project manager), both at Uppsala University.
Gotland Horizon
Gotland Horizon is Rederi AB Gotland's ship concept for the Gotland traffic of the future. The vessel is designed to be powered by hydrogen and will be Sweden's first large-scale hydrogen-powered vessel for both passengers and freight, with water as the only emission. The new concept vessel enables a zero-emission Gotland voyage by 2030. Read more about the project at http://gotlandhorizon.se/