Norway’s CryoVac has moved closer to enabling liquid hydrogen (LH2) shipping with its innovative insulation system, which has gained Approval in Principle (AiP) from classification society DNV.

CryoVac, headquartered near Oslo, has developed a vacuum insulation system to address the challenges of storing and transporting liquid hydrogen, which must be maintained at an ultra-cold temperature of −253°C. Such low temperatures pose safety and material challenges, as steel can become brittle under these conditions, potentially compromising tank integrity.

The company’s solution, branded CryoPan, uses hexagonal vacuum insulation panels welded into continuous surfaces. This design offers robust insulation while minimising hydrogen boil-off, the process where stored hydrogen evaporates due to heat ingress. The tanks themselves are prismatic, based on existing ship storage designs, and are housed within an insulated compartment to ensure safety and efficiency.