The cross-border initiative Rhine Hydrogen Integration Network of Excellence (RH2INE) has received an initial design approval for the standardized design of interchangeable hydrogen containers. The certificate, known as "Approval in Principle" (AiP), was issued by the maritime certification organization Lloyd's Register. This will allow containers to be more easily used in the emission-free, hydrogen-powered inland shipping in the Rhine corridor in the future.
RH2INE describes the step as a transition from theoretical concepts to a practically deployable mobile hydrogen infrastructure for inland cargo ships, push boats, and other watercraft.
Open standard for 20- and 40-foot containers
Last year, RH2INE's standardization working group developed an open, safe, and certified standard for interchangeable hydrogen containers with an operating pressure of 380 bar in 20 and 40-foot versions. Experts, industry partners such as Air Products, Air Liquide, NPROXX, Hexagon Purus, H2Storage, ArgoAnleg, Rheinmetall, Covess, and ZBT, as well as Lloyd's Register, were involved. In coordination with the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA), they defined, among other things, the connections, safety components, and connection systems for the tank containers executed as Multiple-Element Gas Container (MEGC).
According to RH2INE, the design approval shows that the concept is technically feasible before the start of the detailed engineering phase. Companies can now plan and build based on the approved concept.
Use on road, rail, and water
According to RH2INE, a benefit of the concept lies in its multimodal versatility. The containers not only serve as interchangeable fuel tanks on board ships but are also certified for the storage and transport of hydrogen by truck, rail, and ship. The basis is the regulations ADR, RID, and ADN. This allows the container to be used as a standardized asset in the entire logistics chain, according to the initiative.
"With this Approval in Principle, we show that emission-free inland shipping with hydrogen is no longer a distant future vision, but a safe, standardized, and practically feasible solution within reach," says Diederick Luijten, Manager at RH2INE. "Since the container can be flexibly used both as a fuel tank on board and as a transport container, we are reducing barriers for shipping companies and investors."
Tom Verlinden, Program Manager at RH2INE, adds that 13 public actors – including port authorities, provinces, and member states – supported the development within the RH2INE network.
Background: Emissions from inland shipping
According to RH2INE, European inland shipping comprises more than 13,000 commercial inland vessels. The sector is estimated to cause 5.5 to 6 million tons of CO₂ per year. The majority of these emissions occur in the Netherlands and Germany, the two largest inland shipping markets in Europe.
Hydrogen complements battery-electric solutions: Batteries are suitable for shorter distances, while hydrogen offers range and performance for heavy long-distance journeys on the Rhine. Additionally, the flexible storage of renewable energy in hydrogen containers can contribute to stabilizing power grids in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Creating green shipping corridors
According to its own statements, the RH2INE consortium now wants to implement three follow-up steps:
"Firstly, we want to start pilot projects and operationally deploy the developed containers as mobile hydrogen infrastructure on hydrogen-powered ships.
Secondly, we want to create green shipping corridors and realize emission-free routes along the Rhine Delta – initially via Point-to-Point connections and later through a comprehensive network.
Thirdly, we want to gradually scale the market by expanding the fleet with more ships and containers while simultaneously promoting the production and demand for green hydrogen," says Luijten.
In parallel, investors want to establish the Rh2ineTainer Company (RTC). This will manage the interchangeable hydrogen containers and lease them to inland shipping companies.
According to the announcement, the open RH2INE standard for interchangeable hydrogen containers in inland shipping can initially be requested and viewed by email from the initiative.
