Hydrogen fuel cells continue to be viewed as one of the most
promising technologies to meet the maritime industry’s goals to reduce and
eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. A broad range of companies are all working
to develop the technology with two additional programs joining the efforts to
use the technology in the propulsion of an increasing range of shipping.
The Australian-based Global Energy Ventures announced it is
entering into a two-year project with Ballard Power Systems to design and
develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for the company’s proposed large-scale
ocean-going hydrogen transport ship. The Compressed H2 Ship (C-H2) is a concept
design to transport up to 2,000 tons of compressed hydrogen at 250 bar. GEV
projects that the C-H2 ship at scale will have a power requirement of 26MW. The
company is also developing a design for a smaller pilot ship that would have a
power requirement of under 10MW.
Ballard will be responsible for the design of the fuel cell system
utilizing its hydrogen fuel cell technologies. They will also assist GEV with
the integration of the system into the design of the C-H2 ship.
GEV’s goal is to leverage the advancements in fuel cells and
hydrogen internal combustion engines to create the vessel that provides for the
large-scale transport of hydrogen. The company is also working with the
American Bureau of Shipping and Capilano Maritime with the goal to receive
Approval in Principle (AIP) for the design in the first half of 2021.
While the Australian project is focused on a large,
ocean-going vessel, Norway’s TECO 2030 is pursuing the development of
zero-emission hydrogen-based fuel cell propulsion for river going vessels, such
as push tugs, dredgers, passenger and cargo ships, and low-profile coasters.
TECO 2030 announced that it has signed a strategic
cooperation agreement with the Dutch Thecla Bodewes Shipyard to develop
expertise and competence for the construction of low and zero-emission vessels.
The companies view this as a platform for potential joint projects to develop
efficient and safe hydrogen fuel cell river vessels, including manufacturing,
installation, testing, and common marketing. Their goal is to commercialize the
technology for inland waterway transport.