Jason Miles, the Chief Executive Officer at Quadrise plc, recently attended a shipping conference hosted by Ricardo plc. There, he observed a new hydrogen fuel-cell module installed in a container designed for the marine sector. The technology behind this module is impressive but also highly complex, and the infrastructure required for its effective and safe use at scale is equally intricate.
Initially, hydrogen technology appears straightforward. Hydrogen is an abundant molecule that emits only water when combusted, presenting a greener alternative to natural gas. However, implementing this fuel technology comes with significant challenges.
One major challenge is energy density. Hydrogen has a low energy density, necessitating much larger volumes of fuel to match the energy output of other marine fuels. At the Ricardo event, the hydrogen fuel cell container, the same size as a Quadrise Plc fuel manufacturing unit, produced only 5MW of energy compared to Quadrise’s 150MW.
Safety is another concern. Hydrogen’s low energy density requires it to be compressed at extremely low temperatures for storage, transport, and handling. As a highly reactive gas, it can be explosive and flammable if not managed correctly, requiring robust engineering, safety protocols, and infrastructure, which complicates its adoption.
Availability also poses a challenge. Although hydrogen is theoretically a clean fuel source, it is largely derived from expensive, energy-intensive processes relying on fossil fuels. The current production of ‘Green Hydrogen’ (made using electricity from renewable sources) and ‘Blue Hydrogen’ (produced from LNG with CO2 sequestration) is insufficient to support large-scale use due to limited technology and financial incentives.
Despite these obstacles, hydrogen could play an important role in our energy ecosystem. However, its widespread adoption in the marine sector is unlikely in the near future. To address current regulatory and environmental challenges, the marine sector requires solutions that offer immediate emissions reductions and can be quickly integrated into existing infrastructure at low cost, such as Quadrise technology.
Incremental and adaptable solutions, like MSAR® and bioMSAR™, provide an immediate and tangible impact on emissions today, while the challenges associated with newer technologies like green or blue hydrogen fuel cells are resolved.
While hydrogen holds promise for the future, practical and scalable solutions available now must be prioritised to achieve immediate environmental benefits.
Quadrise plc (LON:QED) is an energy technology provider whose solutions enable production of cheaper, cleaner, simpler and safer alternatives to fuel oil and biofuels, proven in real world applications. Quadrise technologies produce transition fuels called MSAR® and bioMSAR™, which allow clients in the shipping, utilities and industrial sectors to reduce carbon emissions whilst also saving costs.
