Meeting Hydrogen Dynamic Demand for on Board Applications Through a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier

The need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions is leading to the transformation of current carbon-based energy system into a more sustainable renewables-based one. Along this path, Hydrogen is a promising carbon-free energy vector when produced from renewable sources, but its storage and transport are challenging due to low volumetric energy density and safety concerns. Recent scientific advancements in handling hydrogen chemically bound to a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) support the prospect of establishing a hydrogen economy, potentially avoiding to deal with large amounts of elemental hydrogen, in its liquid cryogenic or compressed gaseous forms. Indeed, hydrogen is stored in the dibenzyltoluene/perhydrodibenzyltoluene system through chemisorption and can be released as needed via a catalytic reaction. This paper describes the development of an innovative system setup that allows the generation of hydrogen on-demand to follow dynamically the power supply required by the electric system of a cruise ship. Indeed, the LOHC system has been designed to meet the power demand for a short transit, maneuvering and berthing, ensuring that the hotel load is fully powered by fuel cells, thereby achieving zero emissions while in port. This prevents the hydrogen and energy losses associated with traditional storage methods, allowing for a safer and more efficient utilization of hydrogen in the maritime sector.