Hydrogen Innovation - Future Infrastructure & Vessel Evaluation and Demonstration

The Hydrogen Innovation, Future Infrastructure & Vessel Evaluation & Demonstration (HI-FIVED) project delivers a combined demonstration of Unitrove's shoreside mobile hydrogen bunkering station and ACUA Oceans zero-emission hydrogen-powered Small Waterplane Twin Hull (SWATH) vessel.

For our CMDC3 demonstration we will demonstrate the benefits of green short-sea shipping compared to alternatives such as the Sustainable Aviation Test Evaluation (SATE) project. SATE is developing an aerial drone with a 100kg payload between the Scottish mainland and islands, while HI-FIVED will deliver a demonstration in Plymouth and in a 2-4 ton payload by sea from the Aberdeen Harbour Board to Orkney .The project will demonstrate our zero-emission technology in a variety of sea-states and weather conditions as well as the increased endurance, stability and reliability of the SWATH design.

Our Consortium includes technical, compliance, delivery, fuel producers, ports and harbours, and commercial partners.The HI-FIVED project roadmap will build, test, certify and demonstrate hydrogen infrastructure and the on-water vessel capabilities in a full 4-week at sea commercial demonstration to TRL8.

The application progresses AO's hydrogen-powered vessel, which was developed to Factory Acceptance Test (FAT-TRL5) under CMDC1 Strand 2, where it received Lloyd's Register Approval in Principle on the internal electrical, hydrogen and command systems.

The project will use the economic and environmental reports developed by Nash Maritime and Southampton University Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) to explore secondary investment opportunities to further develop the opportunities of green shipping corridors.

Through CMDC1, AO also identified challenges in the global hydrogen-electric supply chain. Working with technology and engineering partners Zero Emission Marine Technology (ZEMTech) and Trident Marine Electrical (TME) and subcontractors Luxfer (tanks) and Air Products/ BOC (fuels) the project will assess and support the extended UK hydrogen supply chain.

End user engagement (18 Letters of Support secured from commercial end-users and local government and enterprise agencies, workshops, demonstrations and events) will deliver local business consultation and develop new use cases and commercial opportunities. The HI-FIVED project showcase further seeks to accelerate net-zero investment opportunities and to create new "green" maritime jobs.

This combined demonstration project uniquely addresses multiple CMDC3 priority innovation challenges of; 1. Development of future commercial green shipping corridors 2. Demonstration of safe bunkering and on-board storage of gaseous hydrogen 3. Assessment of the UK green hydrogen supply chain 4. 12 weeks of on-water vessel demonstrations

Total eligible costs for the 24-month project are £5,371,277 (£3,837,335 grant, £1,533,942 match-funding from partners existing reserves).