This week the American Bureau of Shipping awarded Approval in Principle to a design for an offshore CO2 injection platform developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries. The design is one of two being developed as part of a joint venture between HHI subsidiary Korean Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering and ABS – the other being a renewable hydrogen production platform. The production platform design has already been awarded AiP, and:
will be linked to renewable power sources on land as a near-shore concept, as well as a variety of offshore wind power. It will offer several options, including hydrogen liquefaction, ammonia and methanol conversion to hydrogen power systems, to address a variety of hydrogen sources and transportation methods.
Features of offshore hydrogen production platform design, as detailed in ABS press release 3 May 2022
The partners are targeting 2025 for both designs to be constructed and operational, with the CO2 injection platform to start storing emissions underground in depleted areas of South Korea’s East Sea gas field that year.
Carbon capture is a game-changing technology with a key role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. ABS is committed not only to supporting the development of the infrastructure such as this platform but the vessels that will prove critical to the value chain as well, with a laser focus on safety.
ABS Senior Vice President (Global Offshore) Peter Fitzpatrick in his organisation’s press release, 3 May 2022
Developing offshore production capabilities
At COP26 last year, ABS and HHI joined forces to develop the two offshore platform designs as part of a wider decarbonisation technology partnership. Intending to provide guidance for the emerging industry, ABS also launched a whitepaper this February entitled Offshore Production of Green Hydrogen, which summarises the technology pathways available to interested parties.
It was just last week we reported that Enterprize Energy is currently developing offshore hydrogen & ammonia production platforms as part of their renewable mega-project off the coast of Vietnam. Offshore production is also being considered by the developers of the NortH2 and Aquaventus projects in Europe.
