ZEMTech reviews, studies, designs, and delivers zero emissions maritime systems, A to Z.
About us
ZEMTech Limited is a project management and delivery company dedicated to the decarbonisation of port facilities and shipping. The company ethos is to drive decarbonisation of marine shipping and associated infrastructure. Our mission is to eliminate GHG emissions from the maritime industry through the adoption of zero-emissions technologies, designs, energy systems, and fuels.
ZEMTech North Sea Hy-Ships Study Phase 1
Published 13 July 2021.
The ZEM Tech North Sea Hy-Ships Study was a multi-sectoral industry project that assessed how the North Sea oil and gas industry and ports can transform and support the shift to green hydrogen to meet IMO shipping targets.
The study was conceived to drive a cross-industry collaboration and create a framework for transforming oil and gas to a greener future.
The UK oil and gas industry has a highly trained, competent workforce, operating in what is now considered a mature basin. The offshore infrastructure, including subsea pipelines, platforms and FPSOs (floating production storage and offloading) could potentially be repurposed to accelerate the production and use of green hydrogen.
A collaborative transformation of North Sea oil and gas assets could be the key to providing zero GHG fuel for shipping.
The study consists of 6 reports documenting the state-of-the-art in green hydrogen technology and exploring development of green hydrogen for maritime use in Aberdeen Harbour and the wider North Sea Region.
Together, the reports form a holistic study with the following outcomes:
- Up-to-date Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for hydrogen for maritime propulsion and bunkering systems
- Calculations of hydrogen demand by vessel type
- Offloading/bunkering systems for green hydrogen from offshore facilities are described and compared in detail, including safety considerations
- A case study of the construction of a 500 MW offshore wind farm using vessels propelled by hydrogen fuel cells is conducted
- Green hydrogen production and bunkering projects in North Sea Region ports are mapped
- Aberdeen’s place in the North Sea hydrogen economy is assessed to identify strategic opportunities for collaboration or possible competition with other ports in the region
- Key stakeholders from Aberdeen’s onshore and offshore industries evaluate their vision for the development of the hydrogen economy in Aberdeen and North East Scotland
The study is copyright of ZEM Tech Limited and was funded by the Net Zero Technology Centre, Aberdeen Harbour Board and Fair Winds Trust. This study was also supported by numerous Benefit in Kind contributors, including TP Group, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), University College London (UCL) and the Institute for Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST).
It can be cited using the following reference (APA):
MacLaine, M., Butler, J., Köhler, J., Hyde, K., Constable, J, Newman, D. & Boezio, C. (2021). North Sea Hy-Ships Study Phase 1, Technical report for the Net Zero Technology Centre and Aberdeen Harbour Board.