Australian company Provaris Energy has announced that ABS has reviewed, verified, and approved the design of its 26,000m3 H2Neo compressed hydrogen carrier following completion of extensive Front End Engineering Design (FEED) work and ABS review activities.
This confirms that the innovative and cost-effective multi-layered hydrogen tank can be incorporated into the H2Neo Carrier and meets the requirements for Ship Classification.
The next steps will be to construct and test a prototype hydrogen tank, and to prepare for ship construction with selected shipyard(s).
Provaris Technical CEO 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 the development of 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 at a time when storage and transport remain key to unlocking markets with ambitions for hydrogen imports at scale from 2026.”
ABS SVP Global Engineering and Technology, Patrick Ryan said: “ABS recognises the potential that hydrogen shows in supporting a sustainable, lower carbon future. Safe and efficient storage and transportation of hydrogen at sea will be critical to the development and viability of the global hydrogen value chain. We have been working closely with Provaris, initially granting AIP in 2021 and subsequently reviewing their comprehensive FEED level package for the H2Neo. ABS is pleased to award Provaris approval of their design, and we look forward to continuing this relationship into continued testing and construction stages of H2Neo carriers, including a yard selection process, and to support Provaris during ship operations on the numerous, interesting projects on the H2 horizon.”
Provaris MD and CEO Martin Carolan added: “Compressed H2 can deliver a safe, economic and energy-efficient hydrogen shipping and transport solution that is essential to meet the climate targets for 2030 and beyond. Provaris has set itself ambitious targets for the detailed engineering and approvals required to develop the H2Neo carrier, and I am pleased to say our team has delivered on time and under budget a unique approach to marine hydrogen transport that is also a world first. Our marketing programme over 2022 continues to raise the awareness of compressed H2 as a first mover and feasible alternative for regional hydrogen trades. We expect this approval milestone to assist with the validation requirements in our commercialisation pipeline, transition Provaris to construction award status in 2023, and de-risk the development and approvals pathway for our large-scale H2Max carrier and our design for hydrogen storage barges.”
