Together with a consortium, fuel cell company PowerCell Sweden AB (publ) has applied for EU funding through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking for the development of a system based on the fuel cell stack PowerCell S3 for integration and testing in marine environments. The application has been positively assessed. contract signing is expected late December, 2016.
The MARANDA consortium will develop a complete and competitive fuel cell system based on the PowerCell S3 (100kW) fuel cell stack. The system will be installed on board the arctic research vessel Aranda operated by SYKE Marine Research Centre, and it will be validated in demanding marine application during an 18 month period.
“This is a really exciting project and we look with confidence forward to start the cooperation with the other partners in the consortium, to jointly develop a complete and competitive fuel cell system and adopt it for marine environment. As an important part of the project, there is a business case analysis for hydrogen fuel cells in marine applications, taking into account the needs for development of regulations, codes and standards (RCS)”, said Per Wassén, CEO, PowerCell Sweden AB.
The PowerCell S3 is a scalable prototype in the 20-100kW range and is designed to use pure hydrogen as fuel. The fuel cell system entails high potential for reducing energy consumption and emissions from harbour boats and tugs.
The consortium consists of the following European companies and research institutions: ABB Oy (Finland), OMB Saleri S.p.A. (Italy), PersEE (France), Suomen ympäristökeskus (Finland), Swiss Hydrogen SA (Switzerland), and Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy (Finland).
The EU funding through Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking is strategically important, but has a limited impact on the company’s results.
Earlier this month, PowerCell Sweden AB received the first marine order for two PowerCell S3 prototype stacks, which Swiss Hydrogen will install on a ship powered by photovoltaics.
More and more countries are demanding fossil-free energy for marine fields of application. The Netherlands has decided to develop fossil-free ferries. Norway, that was an early user of battery operations, is far advanced in establishing fuel cell-powered ships. Over the next few years car ferries, passenger ferries and a fishing boat will be powered by fuel cell technology in Norway
“Hydrogen gas will replace diesel in a marine industry that is forced to reduce its emissions. The ship in question will be a mobile show-case that describes how effective and reliable the hydrogen gas technology is in marine environments”, said Alexandre Closset, CEO, Swiss Hydrogen SA.
The fuel cells are expected to quadruple the ships autonomy and hydrogen gas is a way for the marine sector to gain access to a fossil free energy solution.
Source & Image Credit: www.powercell.se
