NEWS

▶ Developed the world’s first low-pressure cargo system operating at -50°C and 7 bar, tripling transport capacity

▶ Applied to a 22,000㎥ LCO₂ carrier, expected to provide a competitive advantage in the large-scale LCO₂ market

▶ “We will lead the future decarbonized shipping market through the proactive development of differentiated eco-friendly technologies”

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has won the prestigious IR52 Jang Young Sil Award for its core liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) carrier technology.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on Wednesday, September 2, that its independently developed Low-Pressure Cargo System for Liquefied Carbon Dioxide Carriers received the IR52 Jang Young Sil Award for the 35th week.

The key feature of the technology is its ability to transport large volumes of liquefied carbon dioxide under ultra-low-temperature and low-pressure conditions of -50°C and 7 bar. Conventional liquefied carbon dioxide carriers typically operate at around -30°C and 20 bar, requiring cargo tanks to be constructed with thicker materials to withstand the higher pressure. As a result, the enlargement of cargo tanks was limited, and transport capacity generally remained at approximately 7,500㎥.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries successfully developed its own technology that lowers operating pressure to 7 bar, enabling the construction of significantly larger cargo tanks. The greatest technical challenge was preventing the formation of dry ice. At temperatures as low as -50°C, even minor fluctuations in temperature or pressure can generate dry ice, potentially blocking pipelines and valves. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries refined its temperature and pressure control technologies to ensure the stable preservation of liquefied carbon dioxide for several months.

Using this technology, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries built and delivered to the Greek shipping company Capital Clean Energy Carriers in January this year the world’s largest LCO₂ carrier, with a cargo capacity of 22,000㎥, capable of transporting approximately three times more carbon dioxide than existing vessels.

As demand for large-scale LCO₂ carriers is expected to increase alongside the expanding carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) market, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries expects that the development of this core technology will help secure a leading position in the market.

Earlier this year, Vice Chairman Chung Kisun met with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos and emphasized the importance of decarbonization and the energy transition. He also highlighted leadership in eco-friendly and decarbonization technologies as a key competitive advantage for the future shipbuilding and maritime industry.

An HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official said, “This award recognizes our proprietary technology that made the world’s largest liquefied carbon dioxide carrier possible. We will continue to proactively develop differentiated eco-friendly vessel technologies and lead the global carbon-neutrality market.”

Meanwhile, the IR52 Jang Young Sil Award is one of Korea’s most prestigious industrial technology awards. Hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by the Korea Industrial Technology Association, the award was established in 1991 to recognize outstanding new technologies, products, and technological innovations developed by domestic companies and research institutions.