In a groundbreaking achievement, Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has successfully produced hydrogen offshore and delivered it to Tokyo, marking a significant milestone in renewable energy. The company used its demonstration vessel, the Winz Maru, to produce green hydrogen at sea and deliver it safely to land.

The Winz Maru is equipped with an onboard plant capable of producing hydrogen from seawater, creating a highly transportable form of green hydrogen. This innovation is part of MOL’s Wind Hunter Project, which aims to develop a sustainable green hydrogen supply chain. As a global leader in green hydrogen technologies, Japan is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in the transition away from fossil fuels, with MOL at the forefront of this push.

GE’s Catalyst turboprop engine has reached a critical milestone with its recent Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 33 certification, ensuring its airworthiness and bringing it a step closer to operational deployment. This achievement is not only a technical success but also a testament to the significant innovations behind the engine, including the extensive use of 3D printing in its design. Nearly a third of the Catalyst’s internal components have been created using 3D printing technology, replacing 855 traditionally manufactured parts with just 12 3D-printed ones. The result is a lighter, more efficient engine that promises substantial cost savings in maintenance and fuel consumption.

The Catalyst turboprop engine features optimized components, including the high-temperature turbine and compressor, which have been designed for improved performance. Notably, the engine consumes 18% less fuel than comparable engines, which represents a significant financial advantage for operators. With turboprop fuel costs ranging from $250 to $600 per hour, this reduction in fuel consumption can have a considerable impact on overall operational costs.

A cutting-edge burner has been developed to improve methane combustion efficiency, featuring a unique nozzle design that directs methane flow in three distinct directions, alongside an impeller that guides gas toward the flame. This innovative configuration ensures optimal oxygen-methane mixing and enables complete combustion before external factors like crosswinds can disrupt the process. The burner’s design was made possible through a combination of machine learning, computational fluid dynamics, and additive manufacturing techniques.

Extensive testing at Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) indoor facility confirmed the burner’s effectiveness in simulating controlled crosswind conditions. “Even a slight crosswind drastically reduced the efficiency of most burners. We discovered that the structure and movement of the fins inside the burner played a critical role in maintaining optimal performance,” explained SwRI Principal Engineer Alex Schluneker.