A review of metallic tanks for H2 storage with a view to application in future green shipping

Increasing environmental legislation necessitates action within the marine industry to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides. Several short-term/intermediate solutions have been introduced. However, the ultimate goal is to achieve complete green shipping. Insights gained from academic and industrial activities demonstrate tangible opportunities for adopting alternative fuels and/or energy sources for future ships, amongst which hydrogen is a promising option. Large scale bunkering of hydrogen on-board marine platforms is inherently risky. To determine the best practice and limitations of current techniques, this review summarises the state-of-the-art in storing hydrogen (fuel) for ships. This review focuses on the mechanical testing, selection of materials and failure mechanisms for cryo-compressed and liquid hydrogen tanks and their insulations. The review also discusses the regulatory aspects with a particular focus on the routes to approval. Knowledge gaps are identified to facilitate further research and development in this field. (c) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Increasing environmental legislation requires the marine industry to reduce greenhouse gases, sulphur oxides, and nitrogen oxides emissions. Insights from academic and industrial activities show tangible opportunities for adopting alternative fuels, with hydrogen as a promising option. However, large-scale bunkering of hydrogen on marine platforms poses inherent risks.