HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), a shipbuilding intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai, has obtained approval in principle (AiP) for its vacuum insulation system for liquefied hydrogen storage tanks from four major classification societies. Last month, the company also received approval for its liquefied hydrogen storage tank welding procedure specification. Hydrogen is widely recognised as a key clean energy source, but its commercialisation has been hindered by the lack of advanced technology to design and construct large liquefied hydrogen storage tanks for ships. To build such tanks, standardised welding procedures and evaluation criteria using special materials are essential. However, no formal regulatory guidelines existed until now. Moreover, reducing the boil-off rate of liquefied hydrogen, over nine times higher than LNG, necessitates a vacuum-insulated tank. HD KSOE tackled these challenges by partnering with class society DNV in a joint development project in August last year. The company developed detailed standards for liquefied hydrogen storage tanks, including welding procedures and evaluation criteria, securing approval from classification societies. HD KSOE has also developed its own vacuum insulation system. This development enables liquefied hydrogen storage tanks to sustain a vacuum state even at –253℃ during ship operations, ensuring the secure transport of significant volumes of liquefied hydrogen without loss. In addition, the time required to create a vacuum has been dramatically shortened, reducing the process from months to days. A representative from HD KSOE stated, “The transition to a hydrogen-based society is an inevitable trend. HD KSOE will continue to lead advancements in hydrogen transport and storage technology by sea, accelerating the path toward hydrogen commercialisation.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsSouth Korea