MOL’s Winz Maru yacht produces and delivers green hydrogen in ‘world-first’ trial

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has successfully produced hydrogen offshore using its demonstration yacht and delivered it onshore to Tokyo, marking what it claims to be a world first.

As part of its Wind Hunter Project, the Japanese firm delivered hydrogen to the central breakwater area of Tokyo.

The green hydrogen was produced onboard the Winz Maru vessel and converted to the liquid organic hydrogen carrier methylcyclohexane (MCH) to facilitate safer and efficient handling and transportation.

The demonstration yacht was modified with MCH tanks and additional turbine generators to enhance the production capacity.

The vessel is a wind-powered ship that navigates using sails and generates electricity through underwater turbines, producing hydrogen from seawater. Unlike traditional ships designed solely for transport, it integrates production, storage, and delivery of hydrogen energy.

© MOL Group

Since 2023, MOL has been focused on supplying domestically produced green hydrogen from Winz Maru to onshore facilities in Tokyo Bay, conducting demonstration tests in Omura Bay. New safety measures were required when operations switched from Omura Bay to Tokyo Bay.

Looking ahead, MOL intends to continue its hydrogen production activities in Tokyo Bay, aiming to produce approximately 100Nm³ (200 litres of MCH) in 2025. Furthermore, the company wants to supply electricity generated from hydrogen to facilities in the central breakwater area of Tokyo.

Work has also begun on supplying hydrogen and studying a large demonstration vessel for the Wind Hunter, planning to construct and commercialise it by the early 2030s.

Last year, Lhyfe’s offshore hydrogen production platform Sealhyfe produced its first kilogrammes of hydrogen. The pilot platform was towed 20km into the Atlantic and connected to the SEM-REV offshore testing site near Central Nantes, France.