HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, part of HD Hyundai's shipbuilding division, announced on Jan. 14 that it has secured approval in principle (AIP) for its vacuum insulation technology for liquefied hydrogen tanks. The approval comes from four classification societies affiliated with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), including Lloyd's Register (LR). This achievement is a major step forward in the commercialization of hydrogen as a clean energy solution.
In December 2024, the company also received approval for its welding procedure specification (WPS) for manufacturing liquefied hydrogen tanks from the Norwegian classification society. These approvals make HD Korea Shipbuilding the first in South Korea to secure both material selection and welding technology for liquefied hydrogen tanks for ships.
The vacuum insulation technology developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding enables the safe transportation of liquefied hydrogen at ultra-low temperatures of –253℃. It maintains the tank's vacuum insulation space even during ship operation, reducing the time required to create the vacuum from months to just days.
Hydrogen is seen as a key clean energy source for reducing carbon emissions, but challenges in designing and manufacturing large-scale liquefied hydrogen storage tanks have hindered its widespread use. HD Korea Shipbuilding's advancements help address these challenges, making hydrogen storage and transportation safer and more efficient.
An official from the company stated, "The transition to a hydrogen society is inevitable," and emphasized the company's commitment to leading the development of hydrogen transportation and storage technology by sea.
