HD KSOE selected to participate in 'Horizon Europe'

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) is participating in the European Union’s “Horizon Europe” research program to develop a large-scale liquefied hydrogen cargo containment system.

Countries and organizations that have formed a consortium to develop a liquefied hydrogen cargo containment system with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering [HD KSOE]

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) is participating in the European Union’s “Horizon Europe” research program to develop a large-scale liquefied hydrogen cargo containment system.

HD KSOE announced Wednesday its consortium has been selected for the research program, the largest collaborative research program in the bloc, to jointly develop a liquefied hydrogen cargo tank with a 160,000 cubic meter capacity.

The consortium consists of 14 EU-based companies and institutions including the American Bureau of Shipping and the Dresden University of Technology.

The consortium aims to invest 10 million euros ($10.6 million) over the course of four years in the initiative, including funding from the EU.

The development will kick off in June.

Horizon Europe is a research and innovation funding program by the EU that aims to boost industrial competitiveness and promote the growth of innovative companies. It has a budget of around 95.5 billion euros from 2021 through 2027.

“With our expertise in the design of liquefied gas carriers honed through winning the largest gas carrier orders worldwide, we will lead the conceptual and basic design of the liquefied hydrogen cargo tank of the project,” an HD KSOE official said.

Hydrogen is increasingly drawing interest as an energy source in line with global carbon neutrality goals as it does emit carbon dioxide even when combusted. Developing a liquefied hydrogen cargo containment system presents unique challenges, particularly in maintaining the hydrogen at an extremely cold temperature of minus 253 degrees Celsius (487 degrees Fahrenheit), at which it liquefies.

“Our aim is to secure the original technology for hydrogen cargo tanks and preempt global standards,” the company stated.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]