The energy sector has taken a key step with the successful supply of green hydrogen produced at sea and delivered on land . The Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has led this initiative through the Wind Hunter Project, an ambitious program that takes advantage of offshore wind energy for the generation of green hydrogen.
An achievement in the supply of green hydrogen
MOL has developed the Winz Maru, a specialized vessel capable of generating hydrogen from offshore wind energy . During its navigation in Tokyo Bay, the vessel transformed hydrogen into methylcyclohexane (MCH), a more stable and easier-to-handle compound, to facilitate its transport and subsequent use on land.
This is the first case in the world where a ship produces and delivers green hydrogen while sailing . The delivery test was carried out in the central breakwater area of Tokyo, where the hydrogen stored on the Winz Maru was successfully transferred to land-based infrastructure. MOL has demonstrated that it is possible to integrate renewable energy production with emission-free maritime transport.
Expansion and increased production capacity
MOL plans to increase green hydrogen production in the coming years. By fiscal year 2025, the company plans to generate 100 Nm3 of hydrogen , equivalent to 200 liters of MCH, to supply facilities in Tokyo Bay. In addition, the company is studying the development of a larger-scale vessel to optimize the hydrogen supply chain domestically and globally.
As part of its commitment to sustainability, MOL will present a model of the Wind Hunter Project at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. The initiative seeks to consolidate its model of green hydrogen production and supply as a benchmark in the decarbonisation of maritime transport .
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Source and photos: Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd.
