Hydrogen bunker facility launched in Ostend

Offshore wind company JERA Nex BP has launched a new green hydrogen bunker station in the Belgian Port of Ostend.

IMAGE: The Hydrocat 48 docked at the hydrogen bunkering facility in Ostend. JERA Nex BP

JERA Nex BP is a joint venture between Japanese utility firm JERA and oil and gas firm BP. It has developed multiple offshore wind farms in Ostend, including Belwind, which has been operational since 2010.

The green hydrogen used for bunkering will be supplied by renewable energy firm Lhyfe, which produces it using renewable electricity at its hydrogen plants in France and Germany.

The bunker facility will initially supply the Hydrocat 48, a hydrogen-capable crew transfer vessel (CTV), but it is capable of bunkering several vessels in a day, Jera Nex BP said.

A CTV is a vessel designed to transport personnel and equipment to and from offshore structures, such as wind farms. The vessel’s operator, Windcat, runs a significant number of hydrogen-capable dual-fuel vessels.

Jera Nex BP has developed the hydrogen refuelling station with EU funding through the Implementation of Ship Hybridisation (ISHY) programme. The programme funds hybrid and hydrogen technologies in shipping and ports.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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