A Norwegian company has taken a step closer to making liquid hydrogen (LH2) shipping a reality, with its innovative insulation system earning approval from a leading maritime organisation.
CryoVac, based near Oslo, has received an Approval in Principle (AiP) from the classification society DNV for its vacuum insulation technology. The system addresses some of the biggest challenges of storing and transporting liquid hydrogen, which must be kept at an extremely cold temperature of −253°C.
“This is an important milestone for CryoVac,” said the company’s CEO, Aage Bjørn Andersen. “It allows us to bring our vacuum insulation system to market and start working with shipowners and designers who want to lead the way in liquid hydrogen shipping.”
Tackling hydrogen’s challenges
Transporting liquid hydrogen is no small feat. The ultra-cold temperatures required for storage can cause steel to become brittle, potentially compromising the safety and durability of the tanks used to carry it.
CryoVac’s solution uses a new type of vacuum insulation panel, called CryoPan, to create an efficient, lightweight system. The design incorporates hexagonal panels welded into continuous surfaces, offering strong insulation and reducing the evaporation of hydrogen, known as boil-off.
Illustration of CryoVac’s LH2 containment system that is based on prismatic tanks. ©CryoVac
The tanks themselves are prismatic in shape, inspired by existing ship storage designs, and are housed in an insulated compartment to maintain safety.
“Our system allows simple prismatic tanks to be used for LH2, providing efficient insulation with a very low boil-off rate, without affecting the strength of the steel,” said Andersen.
The approval from DNV, a global authority on ship safety and technology, confirms that CryoVac’s system meets existing regulations and could be safely implemented on vessels.
“It is exciting to see solutions like CryoVac’s, which offer an innovative way to store and transport liquid hydrogen,” said Trond Berntzen, a senior official at DNV Maritime. “Projects like this are crucial for developing safe and sustainable technologies for the future.”
A hydrogen-powered future
CryoVac’s next step is to develop a large hydrogen carrier ship capable of holding 45,000 cubic metres of liquid hydrogen. The vessel would not only transport hydrogen but also run on it, offering a zero-emission option for maritime shipping.
“There is growing interest around the world for a safe and cost-efficient way to ship liquid hydrogen,” said Mr Andersen. “We aim to fill this technology gap and work with shipowners and hydrogen producers to build a global supply chain.”
Photo from the presentation of the AiP certificate at DNV’s headquarter (from left to right): Suchet D. Salvesen (Member of the Board, CryoVac), Magnus Lindgren (Senior Principal Surveyor, Gas Carrier Excellence Center), Gunnar Bærheim (Senior Advisor, CryoVac), Sverre Øien (Chief Technical officer, CryoVac), Roy Norum (Chairman of the Board, CryoVac), Endre Lajord, (Head of Section, Gas Carrier Excellence Center), Aage Bjørn Andersen, (Chief Executive Officer of CryoVac AS), Sung Joon Choi (Principal Approval Engineer, Gas Carrier Excellence Center), Trond Berntzen (Head of Department, Gas Technology, Piping & Safety ) and Roar Foss (Senior Advisor, CryoVac). ©CryoVac
CryoVac operates from its headquarters in Vikersund, about an hour from Oslo, and also has offices in Drammen and Lillestrøm. The company is collaborating with DNV on further approvals to help bring its vision for hydrogen-powered shipping to life.
Several European initiatives are advancing the maritime transport of liquid hydrogen (LH₂), aiming to establish sustainable and efficient supply chains across the continent.
LH2 Europe project
The LH2 Europe project plans to supply 100 tonnes of liquid hydrogen per day from Scotland to Germany, with future expansions targeting up to 300 tonnes daily. The initial phase requires up to 300 MW of renewable electricity sourced from solar and wind power through long-term power purchase agreements. Delivery is planned via purpose-built, hydrogen fuel cell-powered tankers, with scalability achieved by adding electrolyser and liquefaction units.
HyShip project
Coordinated by Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding ASA, the HyShip project aims to develop and validate a 2 MW fuel cell liquid hydrogen ship, serving both as a cargo vessel and a bunkering platform. The project, running from January 2021 to December 2025, involves 18 partners across Europe and has received €7.9m ($8.3m) in EU funding. It seeks to establish a scalable LH2 supply chain, with the demonstrator vessel connecting new hydrogen production facilities to demand centres.
LH2CRAFT project
The LH2CRAFT project focuses on designing an innovative membrane-type containment system for large-scale LH2 storage, targeting capacities up to 200,000 m³ at -253°C. Coordinated by Hydrus Engineering in Greece, the project commenced in June 2023 and is set to conclude in May 2027, with a total EU contribution of €5.6m ($5.9m). A key objective is to construct and test a 180 m³ prototype to validate the design’s safety, modularity, and scalability for commercial maritime applications.
Energy Observer 2
French company Energy Observer has been awarded €40m ($42m) from the European Union’s Innovation Fund to develop the Energy Observer 2 (EO2), envisioned as the world’s largest liquid hydrogen-fuelled cargo ship. This project aims to transform shipping by introducing a low-emission, sustainable vessel that utilises liquid hydrogen as its primary fuel source.
The global liquid hydrogen market is experiencing major growth, driven by rising demand for clean energy and decarbonisation initiatives. Valued at approximately $13.5bn in 2023, the market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 8-10% over the next decade.
This growth is fuelled by increased adoption in industries such as aerospace, transportation, and energy storage, alongside advancements in liquefaction technology and infrastructure development to meet the needs of a hydrogen-based economy.
