Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has used its demonstration yacht to achieve a world first in green energy production.
Using the yacht Winz Maru, the company has manufactured green hydrogen from offshore wind for use on land for the ‘Wind Hunter Project’, a zero-emission project using wind power and hydrogen.
During strong winds the yacht use wind power to generate electricity using a underwater turbine to produce and store hydrogen onboard.
During light winds, the stored hydrogen was used as hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity to rotate the yacht’s propeller.
The yacht was supplied onshore in the central breakwater area of Tokyo and marks the first time that a ship has supplied green hydrogen, produced on its own while underway, for use on shore.
Hydrogen production
The project dates back to 2021 with MOL conducting a demonstration test with the Winz Maru yacht and completing all the phases of hydrogen production, storage and usage of stored hydrogen onboard.
Since 2023, MOL has focused on supplying domestically produced green hydrogen from the Winz Maru in Tokyo Bay to onshore facilities.
MOL states that the Winz Maru makes it easy to handle and transport hydrogen, a difficult process for hydrogen gas, by converting produced green hydrogen to methylcyclohexane (MCH) onboard the vessel.
Demonstration vessel
To ensure sufficient supply, MOL has modified the MCH tanks and added turbine generators to the vessel. In addition, safety measures have been taken making the tanks suitable for rougher sea conditions.
MOL now plans to continue its green hydrogen production activities with the aim of producing about 100 Nm3 of hydrogen – the equivalent of about 200 liters of MCH – in 2025, while also supplying electricity to other onshore facilities.
MOL is also working on studying a demonstration vessel and hydrogen supply chains for Wind Hunter.
The company aims to construct a demonstration vessel and commercialise the vessel in the next few years.
