EMEC Hydrogen has chosen Genevos as a marine fuel cell supplier for the £2.2m (US$2.9m) HIMET (Hydrogen in an Integrated Maritime Energy Transition) project. The company will provide a zero-emission auxiliary power solution that will undergo trials on board a ro-ro ferry.
Based in Orkney, UK, and led by EMEC Hydrogen, the HIMET project will explore the decarbonization of ferries and shore-side activities in ports.
Over a period of seven months the project will design and demonstrate several solutions including hydrogen storage, the supply of onboard auxiliary power using a hydrogen fuel cell and the use of hydrogen in a conventional ferry propulsion engine.
Upon completion of the project and its demonstrations, Genevos will support HIMET partners by facilitating uptake across the UK and other locations to demonstrate cleaner working practices.
“It is an exciting opportunity to be working with EMEC, one of the world’s renowned clean-energy R&D centers, to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen fuel cells as a zero-emission solution for ferries,” commented Phil Sharp, CTO of Genevos. “Hydrogen has been identified as a vital clean fuel for decarbonizing vessels, and HIMET is a valuable project that is taking immediate action to help address net-zero solutions and accelerate this vital clean energy transition.”
Funding for the project was provided by the Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Genevos was also chosen by EMEC Hydrogen to supply one of its Hydrogen Power Modules (HPMs) for installation on the deck of Orkney Ferries’ MV Shapinsay ro-ro ferry. The solution was chosen because of its plug-and-play marinized concept, which integrates fuel cell systems and power management. The installation will be used for demonstration purposes.
The company’s HPMs can provide 15-45kW and can be connected in parallel to provide zero-emission power for applications up to 500kW. The solution can be used to reduce or eliminate vessel emissions by way of propulsion or auxiliary power generation.