Island country Jersey to test hydrogen in shipping

Island country Jersey plans to test the use of hydrogen fuel technology in its maritime sector, and hopes will put the Island at ‘the forefront of the global transition to net-zero’.

A new partnership with marine-hydrogen accelerator OceansLab demonstrates the Island’s commitment to decarbonisation.

OceansLab, led by Jersey round-the-world yachtsman Phil Sharp, and Ports of Jersey will look at the use of hydrogen technology in port infrastructure and vessels including ferries, lifeboats and cargo ships.

In addition, the partnership will see the government become a brand ambassador for the OceansLab race boat as it competes without fossil fuels, emitting only water as a by-product of the hydrogen fuel cell, in the IMOCA Globe Series.

Ports of Jersey technicians will work alongside OceansLab to test the applicability of the hydrogen fuel-cell technology on a small tug.

Meanwhile, a collaboration between airline Blue Islands and Universal Hydrogen is trialling the use of green hydrogen as an alternative, fully decarbonised aviation fuel.