The shipping sector is currently responsible for a billion tonnes of CO2 emissions every year (Tsang, et al., 2021). It also accounts for more than 5% of global SOX emissions. The departure from a fossil fuel-based economy is necessary for sustainable economic growth and for saving the environment.

Hydrogen would be an excellent choice for addressing the decarbonisation challenges in the shipping sector because

(i) other decarbonisation solutions, such as batteries, are not viable due to their limited energy density;
(ii) the massive amount of energy required for ships, and the lack of charging infrastructure; and
(iii) hydrogen can be produced from locally available renewable resources that would also address national security risks by eliminating reliance on imported fuels. The prototype fuel cell ship has already been successful, while a large-scale application is still some way off.

Due to hydrogen’s unique properties, the safety and reliability of using hydrogen in maritime vessels are major concerns that limit hydrogen scaling for ships. Hydrogen leakage, fire, and explosion are key issues that need to be carefully assessed. Previous studies mainly focused on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, while there are very limited studies on hydrogen leakage and fire in the shipping industry, even though the associated risk is significantly higher. In ships, the hydrogen storage capacity on a fuel cell ship and the amount of electrical equipment in a ship are substantial. Consequently, the safety hazards and accident levels in a ship are much higher than those in hydrogen vehicles. In addition, it is more difficult to carry out rescue measures offshore. Therefore, the study of hydrogen leakage and fire in ships is of great importance.

This project aims to develop novel computational models to enable the safe use of hydrogen in maritime vessels which will contribute to the Commonwealth Milestones of the BE CRC. The work will draw upon Scoping Study 3.20.001 Hydrogen Storage and Distribution and will be complementary to the currently funded BE CRC project (P.1.21.007) that aims to conduct a feasibility study into the maturity of hydrogen-powered vessel technology. The outcome of the proposed project will also provide benefits to enhance the safety and reliability of offshore hydrogen production.