Creating Our Future with Wind and Hydrogen
Aiming for World's First Large Hydrogen Production Vessel

The Wind Hunter Project is a big project owned and led by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), together with several companies and organizations. The project is to develop a large hydrogen production vessel with wind. Hydrogen will be produced from the sea, which covers more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface. The hydrogen will be stored on board and also used as fuel so that the vessel can sail without emitting CO2 even with no wind. Hydrogen energy will be delivered to and discharged on land where MOL aims to create hydrogen supply chains.

The onboard production of hydrogen from wind power and seawater will be the world's first initiative and cutting-edge technology.

"Winz Maru" Yacht on Experimental Trials in Omura Bay, Nagasaki

Project Manager of this project at MOL, Shima Kentaro, said: "The project was launched in 2020 and we successfully demonstrated the Wind Hunter concept, operating the yacht 'Winz Maru' in Omura Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture. Winz Maru is about 12 meters long, and is equipped with a water electrolyzer, etc."

The zero-emission vessel can sail in strong winds and generate electricity from an underwater turbine. The electricity so generated will be led to the onboard water electrolyzer, which will produces hydrogen. Storage alloys were applied as a hydrogen carrier before but methylcyclohexane (MCH) is now applied as a new hydrogen carrier. Hydrogen onboard Winz Maru will be changed into MCH with a view to its future use in large hydrogen production vessels. When there is little or no wind, hydrogen can be taken from MCH and such hydrogen can be used as a fuel by fuel cells.

Matsuo Akira, president of SMERT DESIGN CO., LTD. in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, who is also a veteran yachtsman, said: "The retrofitted equipment on board weighs over two tons. Generally, yachts do not carry that much additional weight. So, we used 3D CAD (three-dimensional computer aided design) to verify the engineering work such as where to locate equipment in the limited space and how to ensure the vessel's stability with the installed weight."

Matsuo also added: "Furthermore, during special inspections by government authorities on the ship's test sailing and while navigating within and outside Omura Bay, we achieved safe operations without any incident as MOL has named this yacht Winz Maru." Winz implies "wind" as well as "win," which means success in experimental trials. Maru means a circle in Japanese, expressing hope that the ship can return safely with successful results from start to finish.

Proposal for a Future with Clean Energy Hydrogen

The 60- to 70-meter Wind Hunter hydrogen production vessel is expected to be built in 2025 and beyond. An even larger vessel is scheduled to be constructed around 2030.

MOL participates in the Tokyo Bay eSG Project where the TMG envisages a sustainable city combining "nature" and "convenience," looking 50 to 100 years into the future. As part of this project, Winz Maru will sail in Tokyo Bay, convert wind into hydrogen and store it on board. The yacht will deliver it to the TMG's Central Breakwater and supply energy for land usage. MOL will demonstrate local production of energy for local consumption, aiming to build hydrogen supply chains for the future.

Winz Maru Comes to Tokyo Bay This May to change the World?

In May 2023, MOL participated in the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), an international exhibition held in Houston, Texas, USA, where major oil players and companies in the energy and environmental industries attended. It has drawn much attention from overseas companies.

Winz Maru will be moored at the Central Breakwater in Tokyo Bay, during SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024, which is held from April to May 2024. Informational displays and tours of the yacht have been prepared. "We want people to deepen their understanding this technology," Shima said. It is a good opportunity to see this world-leading cutting-edge technology in person.

SusHi Tech Tokyo, short for Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo, is a Tokyo-based concept that aims to create sustainable new value by overcoming global urban challenges through cutting-edge technology, diverse ideas, and digital expertise.

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024: 
https://www.sushi-tech-tokyo2024.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/