Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (HD KSOE) for its groundbreaking vacuum-insulated large-scale liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank system. This accomplishment includes the successful testing of a large-scale vacuum chamber, marking the world’s first technical validation of large-scale LH2 tank insulation design.

The vacuum-insulated system is designed to address key challenges in using hydrogen for maritime purposes, particularly the scalability of liquefied hydrogen storage and transportation. Liquid hydrogen must be stored at an extremely low temperature of -253°C, requiring advanced vacuum-insulated tanks to minimize boil-off gas. While NASA’s largest LH2 tank has a capacity of 5,000 m³, maritime applications demand tanks that are more than four times larger. HD KSOE’s innovative vacuum insulation technology significantly reduces the time needed to achieve a vacuum in these large tanks, making large-scale hydrogen storage more practical and efficient.

Several global hydrogen industry leaders, including Woodside Energy, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), and Hyundai Glovis, collaborated on the design and validation process. Test results and system designs were shared with these companies and international classification societies like LR. These evaluations confirmed that the new system could greatly reduce vacuum time during ship construction, a critical step toward practical implementation.

LR conducted comprehensive assessments and performance tests to ensure compliance with its classification rules and international standards for gas ships. The approval highlights LR’s commitment to fostering sustainable innovation in the maritime sector.

Sung-Gu Park, President of LR North East Asia, stated, “This AiP signifies a transformative development, setting a new standard for sustainable solutions in the industry and advancing decarbonization goals.”

Dr. Byeongyong Yoo, Vice President of HD KSOE, emphasized the company’s dedication to advancing large-scale energy shipping technologies. He added, “This innovation in hydrogen vacuum systems and large-scale validation marks a significant step in supporting the energy transition and achieving net-zero targets.”

Jason Crusan, VP Energy Solutions at Woodside Energy, noted that this milestone builds confidence in the efficient design and construction of liquid hydrogen ships. Similarly, Jotaro Tamura of MOL described the achievement as a critical step toward commercializing liquefied hydrogen transportation, addressing tank scalability challenges.

Hyundai Glovis Vice President Chi-O Kwon concluded, “This breakthrough reflects our commitment to innovation and establishes a strong foundation for future advancements in hydrogen technology.”

This achievement is poised to revolutionize hydrogen storage and transport, promoting the adoption of clean energy solutions in the maritime industry.