With a garbage patch the size of Mongolia currently circulating the Pacific Ocean, environmentally-conscious companies are searching for ways to tackle the issue of plastic waste once and for all, but a new ship design could kill two birds with one stone.
The stored hydrogen will be transported into smaller vessels using onboard cranes to create more space. Credit: H2 Industries
Developed by H2 Industries alongside shipbuilder Technolog, a new ocean vessel that collects plastic directly from the ocean and converts it to hydrogen has hit the planning phase, with both firms drafting up 3D designs for how it could look.
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According to the briefs, the ship is likely to be powered by the hydrogen it produces, with the excess being stored and shipped back to shore.
Plastic is currently the most abundant type of waste in the Earth's oceans, with around 14 million tonnes entering every year, and the UN reports the rate of plastic pollution is set to double by 2030. This begs the question: how do we deal with it?
Likely measuring over 150 metres in length, the exact size of the ship has yet to be determined and is subject to optimal storage capacity.
The current plan is for the ship to travel at four knots with the waste plastic collected by two smaller vessels towing a two-mile net that funnels the waste from the surface and up to ten metres below it.
The firm claims the most novel feature of the vessel will be the open bow design that allows the collected plastic waste to be fed onto conveyors and into the storage hold.
The waste will then be converted into hydrogen using the same process used by H2 Industries on land, where chemical bonds are broken down using heat and converted into hydrogen in a process known as "thermolysis" or thermal decomposition.
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For every 600 kg of waste collected, approximately 100 kg of hydrogen can be produced and then, stored in a 6 metre (20 foot) liquid organic hydrogen carrier, H2 claims. These containers will be transported and stored on smaller vessels en route.
The stored hydrogen is neither volatile nor capable of self-discharging, it claims. The hydrogen container can only be charged or discharged using a certain catalyst.
These containers will be transported to smaller ships using onboard cranes for delivery to shore.
Due to it not only generating a form of renewable energy, but also actively removing pollution from the planet, H2 CEO Michael Stusch refers to the technology, and the hydrogen produced, as "greener than green" or "beyond green" hydrogen.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the shipping industry can make a positive impact on reducing global emissions," he said.
"[Our] plan is to help decarbonise industry and power generation while cleaning up our water resources and converting pollutants into an energy source.
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Global shipping is currently working to try and actively decarbonise, but progress has been limited. The sector accounts for 2.5% of greenhouse gas emissions, but is vital for global supply chains, meaning industry players will be pushing for greener vessels.
Hydrogen is being touted as one of the key technologies in decarbonising the entire sector.
H2 is currently looking for investors to bring the concept to life, at which point the two companies can start building.
"Once the investment is in place, we expect each ship will be built within roughly 24 months," Stusch added.
However, the concept as it stands is not without its hitches. One constraining factor for production is the volume of plastic feedstock which could significantly slow the ship down.
The rotary kiln can handle 600 kgs of waste every hour and that will generate approximately 100 kg of hydrogen. And each vessel will be fitted with multiple kilns.
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H2 estimates each ship will operate in an area for around a year before moving on.
In addition to this, the vessel will constantly have to monitor seawater collected to ensure no wildlife has been harmed in the process, although it is currently unknown whether a crew will be on hand to provide aid to any animals already trapped in plastic waste.
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