The Zero Emission Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) formally launched the Global Liquid Hydrogen Alliance at the International Maritime Organization’s London headquarters.
The alliance will support the deployment of liquid hydrogen in shipping through policy coordination, infrastructure development and commercial partnerships. According to ZESTAs, the initiative is focused exclusively on pure green hydrogen and liquid hydrogen, rather than hydrogen-derived fuels such as ammonia or methanol.
Liquid hydrogen, ZESTAs said, ‘occupies a distinct and critical position’ in shipping’s energy transition because it ‘delivers pure green hydrogen directly to the point of use’, avoiding additional conversion steps associated with derivative fuels.
The alliance’s founding members are companies involved in hydrogen production, storage, bunkering and vessel technology, including Kawasaki Heavy Industries, EDF, Samskip, PowerCell Group and Dhamma Sea.
ZESTAs said the alliance will focus on four areas: developing technical and safety data for liquid hydrogen applications; supporting liquid hydrogen as a fuel option for long-range shipping; coordinating commercial and policy activity; and facilitating deployment through port, vessel and supply-chain partnerships.
The organisation has cited more than 600 hydrogen projects globally, backed by over €175bn in committed capital. It also said Europe, which it expects to account for around one-third of global hydrogen demand, currently has approximately 30 tonnes per day of liquefaction capacity.
Madadh MacLaine, co-founder and secretary general of ZESTAs, said: ‘Zero-emission shipping is already underway. The investment is moving, the regulation is coming, and the early movers are setting the terms. [The] liquid hydrogen market reflects that momentum: valued at $9 billion today, it is projected to reach $19 billion by 2032 and exceed $54 billion from 2037 onward, with global liquefaction capacity set to more than quadruple in the same period.’
Karima El Kmiti from Dhamma Sea said: ‘Real-world projects are already demonstrating that hydrogen is a viable solution for maritime decarbonisation and the future of cleaner mobility.’
