Robotics Facility Set to be a Game-Changer for H2 and CO2 Tank Production
Commissioning Complete & Site Visit by "K" Line, Yinson and Harbour Energy
With all commissioning activities for the installed robotic cell complete, fabrication of the H2 Prototype Tank is underway using robotics for plate handling and laser-welding. Welding rates of the layered plate design will ramp up through December 2025 to support our target for completion of fabrication in the 1st quarter of 2026 and undertake testing. The successful completion of an extensive pressure testing program will be a key milestone to receive final approvals from Class for the H2Neo carrier.
During November, Norway provided an early winter to welcome a delegation to the Robotics Innovation Centre located at Fiskå, on the West Coast of Norway. It was an opportunity to showcase the installed robotic cell and demonstrate the robotic automation for plate-handling and laser-welding of our world-first H2 prototype tank.
The delegation including partners across H2 and CO2 joined us for this milestone occasion being the first site visit by technical and commercial teams. The site visit included management from "K" Line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd), Yinson Production AS, Harbour Energy Plc, and our advisers Clarksons Norway AS.
Collaborations with industrial partners for H2 and CO2 are a testament to the relevance of Provaris’ solutions. The installed robotic cell is a showcase for Provaris’ innovation in design and fabrication that can deliver Norway a strategic early-mover position for industrial H2 supply and maritime transport to Germany. In parallel Norway is also strategically placed to be a key hub for the storage and injection of Europe’s captured CO2. Large scale solutions for storage and transport are critical for both H2 and CO2 to unlock these markets.
Supportive Partner to Drive Commercialisation of H2Neo
Provaris continues to deepen the partnership with “K” Line through the completion of technical and commercial activity under the MOU. This includes completion of a three-day visit to Norway in November to further “K” Line’s understanding of the Norwegian market and our technical program. The trip included workshops across various technical, operational and commercial development areas for H2 shipping as we advance a ownership structure and commercial readiness for the hydrogen carriers in 2026.
The combination of Provaris’ in-house technical and shipping expertise and “K” Line’s global ship operations and financial strength is now enhanced by the robotics facility to demonstrate to Class and other stakeholders how to build large carbon steel tanks using advanced automation and robotics laser, and laser-hybrid welding which are proven technologies.
CO2 to Leverage the H2 Prototype Tank and IP
Provaris is now well advanced in the FEED design of a 25,000 cbm low-pressure LCO2 tank for integration with Yinson’s FSIU for offshore storage and injection . The site visit was an important verification step for management from Yinson, and their partners in the CO2 supply chain “K” Line and Harbour Energy, to visualise the layered tank design that is being transferred to the CO2 tank for the FSIU and see first-hand how fabrication taking place of large steel plates is performed. We view our designs for CO2 tanks can be a game-changer for the industry to unlock the scale and cost ambitions in storage, injection and marine transport.
Further updates on the FEED project with Yinson will be made in line with interim milestones, including the main target to be ‘FID ready’ mid-2026. Simultaneously, Provaris and Yinson have initiated consultations with Asian shipyards to evaluate the feasibility and cost associated with constructing the full-scale tank CO2 design.Hear from Provaris CEO and CTO onsite at Fiskå
For more details, please watch a short video with Provaris CEO Martin Carolan and CTO Per Roed. We look forward to providing regular updates on the H2 Prototype Tank.