A unit of LNG giant Shell and French LNG containment specialist GTT are joining forces to develop technologies to enable the transportation of liquid hydrogen (LH2).
In that regard, Shell International Trading and Shipping Company and GTT signed a cooperation agreement, according to a GTT statement on Tuesday.
This cooperation agreement is part of Shell’s strategy to develop a hydrogen energy supply chain by creating “scalable and safe” liquefied hydrogen shipping technologies, GTT said.
The deal includes the development by GTT of a preliminary LH2 carrier design as well as an LH2 cargo containment system for mid-size LH2 carrier, it said.
GTT expects the demand for hydrogen across multiple sectors to increase to meet the need for net zero carbon energy sources in the energy transition.
However, the ability to transport very large volumes of hydrogen in liquefied form, at -250°C, represents one of the technological challenges that the industry must meet in order to establish a reliable, efficient, and competitive hydrogen supply chain, it said.
“We are particularly proud to combine our expertise and innovation capabilities with those of Shell on this very promising project,” Philippe Berterottière, CEO of GTT, said.
“Our cooperation will allow a new technological breakthrough in the shipping world with the safe and scalable deployment of liquid hydrogen transport,” he said.