Lloyd’s Register has entered into a MoU with H2Terminals Limited and its supply chain partners, HiDROGEN and D3IM, to assess the viability of a green hydrogen (H2) infrastructure project in the UK.

The parties will work together on floating production and transportation of H2, as well as identify regulatory needs such as safety cases and risk assessments. This collaboration aims to develop an offshore island and supply chain that will deliver green power to businesses along the Thames Estuary and River.

The project, together with the businesses it will benefit, contributes to the Thames Estuary Growth Board's private sector-led action plan. This plan aims to attract investments and foster development in the Thames Estuary region.

The plans involve establishing a wind, wave, and solar energy facility located 100 km offshore. Green hydrogen produced on a floating island will be liquefied and transported by ship to a terminal on the Thames Estuary near London. At the terminal, the hydrogen will be transferred to floating barges where it will undergo conversion into electricity and hot water, along with the production of byproducts such as liquid nitrogen and oxygen from the process. Batteries installed on the barges will store the electricity as it is transported to its destination for use.

The MoU also involves a comprehensive technology assessment, covering asset design development, qualification of containment systems, and the creation of floating hydrogen production and energy export systems. Planned project assets will include approved materials capable of safely containing and insulating green liquid hydrogen at -253°C.

Moreover, the MoU will set up a quality assurance initiative for floating hydrogen production, hydrogen vessels, classification, and energy export systems.

Mark Tipping, LR's Power to X Director, stated: “This initiative showcases how shipping can advance governmental goals to decarbonize supply chains and foster economic growth at regional and national levels. The collaborative green hydrogen project, supported by LR, H2 Terminals, HiDROGEN, and D3IM, aims to establish a sustainable logistics network along the River Thames, setting the stage for industrial development.”

Gerry Wilkinson, CEO at H2Terminals, remarked: "The demand for green hydrogen is expected to surge in the coming years, and we commend the Thames Estuary Growth Board for endorsing this alternative fuel to bring jobs and investment opportunities to the Thames Estuary region. We are poised to offer thirty-year Power Purchasing Agreements directly to industry and utility companies, and participate in trading and capacity markets. With the UK government setting ambitious targets for low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, we are eager to collaborate with the Growth Board, London & Partners, Lloyd’s Register, HiDROGEN, and D3IM to help achieve these goals."