Page 50: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2023)

HYDROGEN HUBS & BATTERIES

ABS “HYDROGEN HUBS” TO THE FORE

The path to decarbonization is de? ned by partnership and fueled by government funding. This month we examine the players, partnerships and evolution of Hydrogen Hubs in the Gulf of Mexico.

By Barry Parker he Green Shipping Challenge, organized by the Unit- produced with a reduced carbon footprint onboard vessels pow- ed States and Norway at COP 27 held in late 2022, ered by alternative fuels. brought about dozens of announcements on maritime The Green Shipping Corridor concept links together with a

T decarbonization. Among these was a joint statement newly emerging concept – “Hydrogen Hubs” – which will be from the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition (BSMC) – a consortium funded in the wake of the massive $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure of North American shipowners and ancillary service providers Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infra- – and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) announcing an structure Bill) signed in 2021, which authorized spending of effort to create a corridor for the Gulf of Mexico and Lower $7B on the establishment of regional clean hydrogen hubs.

Mississippi River region, joined by port authorities and stake- While the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expects to fund up holder organizations from Houston and New Orleans in this to 10 such hubs through its H2Hubs program, 79 proposals were initiative. There are multiple de? nitions of what, exactly, consti- received to DOE’s initial request for concept papers. Of these, tutes a ‘Green Shipping Corridor,’ as dozens of initiatives have 33 received a “thumbs up” encouraging them to submit more been announced since the introduction of the concept at COP extensive proposals (due in April, 2023) for funding. 26 in October 2021. They can be thought of as a port-to-port The corridors and hubs ? t nicely together in the U.S. Gulf, trade route (with actual port operations having a reduced or zero which is known in the crude oil and re? ned products trades as carbon emission pro? le) , hauling non-fossil fuel commodities PADD 3 (Petroleum Administration for Defense District). Natu- 50 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • May 2023

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