Hydrogen will likely be an essential commodity as the world focuses on decarbonization. To facilitate the transportation of renewable energy across vast distances in the form electrons to molecules, hydrogen shipping presents both technological barriers and opportunities.

As a clean energy carrier, hydrogen holds immense potential especially for difficult to decarbonize sectors like industrial processes and maritime shipping. Its versatility allows for hydrogen transportation in various forms such as liquid, gaseous, or chemical carriers like ammonia or methanol, through pipelines (like blending with natural gas), rail, trucks, or ships.

Hydrogen stands as an energy vector for the global energy transition, providing a cleaner and more sustainable future when applied as fuel. Its appeal stems from its abundance, derived from diverse sources like water, natural gas, biomass and others.

Despite its potential as a clean energy source, hydrogen poses several serious risks at every stage of its value chain, from production and storage to usage and transportation. It is extremely vulnerable to unintentional fires and explosions due to its flammability, broad explosive range, and low ignition energy.

Additionally, because of its low density, it must be stored at high pressure or undergo cryogenic liquefaction, which both increases the danger of pressure vessel failures and cryogenic embrittlement.

Establishing a robust global hydrogen supply chain necessitates significant investment in production, storage, and transportation infrastructure. This includes developing specialized tankers, vessels and infrastructure at ports to handle the unique properties of hydrogen, such as its low density and cryogenic storage requirements. While the challenges are significant, the potential for decarbonizing the shipping sector through hydrogen presents a compelling economic and environmental case, driving innovation and collaboration among stakeholders worldwide.

Several alternative hydrogen shipping methods exist, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Compressed hydrogen gas offers simplicity but requires large tank volumes and high pressures due to hydrogen’s low density. 

Ammonia is a promising hydrogen carrier, boasting higher energy density per unit volume than compressed hydrogen, easier liquefaction and transport, albeit requiring energy-intensive conversion back to hydrogen at its destination.

As the global economy transitions away from fossil fuels, marine LNG terminals may need to be expanded and modified for hydrogen storage, requiring some necessary adjustments.

In addition, research indicates that the supply and demand for clean hydrogen will be significantly out of balance. For example, to meet demand in Northwest Europe, the Port of Rotterdam projects that 20 million tons of hydrogen would be delivered via the port by 2050. To link production and consumption hubs in Europe and beyond while ensuring the supply security for the EU, marine ports with conversion and multimodal transportation connections will be essential.

Accelerating the offtake of the hydrogen value chain requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, addressing critical policy matters across several dimensions.

Fostering collaboration amongst stakeholders in policy and standardization matters for hydrogen trade are paramount to overcoming infrastructural limitations, stimulating the development of the necessary port facilities and transportation networks required for a globally interconnected hydrogen supply chain. Only through this concerted effort can the full potential of hydrogen shipping be realized, contributing significantly to the global sustainable energy transition.