SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — HD Hyundai has made significant strides in accelerating hydrogen commercialization by successfully developing shipboard liquid hydrogen tanks and vacuum insulation technology.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding division, announced on January 13, 2025, that it has received Approval in Principle (AIP) for its vacuum insulation technology for liquid hydrogen tanks from four International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) members: Lloyd’s Register (LR), the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DNV, and the Korean Register (KR).
In December 2024, HD KSOE also secured approval from DNV for its Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) for constructing shipboard liquid hydrogen tanks. This achievement makes HD KSOE the first company in South Korea to fully develop and verify materials selection, welding techniques, and vacuum insulation technology for liquid hydrogen storage tanks.
As hydrogen emerges as a clean energy source of the future, commercialization of hydrogen transport ships has been hindered by the lack of design and manufacturing technology for liquid hydrogen storage tanks. The absence of standardized welding procedures and evaluation criteria for special materials has posed significant challenges.
Moreover, due to liquid hydrogen’s evaporation rate being over nine times higher than that of liquefied natural gas (LNG), maintaining a vacuum-insulated environment within the tank is essential. However, achieving this vacuum state has been a time-consuming process with current technology.
To overcome these challenges, HD KSOE initiated a Joint Development Project (JDP) with DNV in August 2024 to establish detailed standards for building shipboard liquid hydrogen tanks. Through this partnership, HD KSOE developed standardized welding procedures and evaluation criteria, leading to classification approval.
HD KSOE also succeeded in independently developing its vacuum insulation technology. This innovation allows the tank’s insulated space to maintain a vacuum even at an ultra-low temperature of -253°C during ship operations, enabling large-scale liquid hydrogen transport without significant loss.
Additionally, the company drastically reduced the time required to create a vacuum inside the tank, shortening a process that previously took months to just a few days.
In February 2024, HD KSOE signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Woodside Energy, Hyundai Glovis, and Japan’s shipping giant MOL to collaborate on developing a liquid hydrogen transportation value chain.
HD Hyundai’s advancements position the company at the forefront of the global hydrogen supply chain, offering innovative solutions for clean energy transport.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)