The partners are evaluating the use of a modular hydrogen fuel cell solution to achieve non-fossil fuel propulsion, collaborating with ABB to develop this solution based on fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems
“Hydrogen is emerging as the energy carrier of choice across industries so we are happy to collaborate with ABB and Ballard Power Systems to develop a hydrogen fuel cell modular solution to the designs currently being developed by Ulstein Design & Solutions. Developing a new efficient design for container vessels incorporating the Ulstein X-BOW will facilitate the transition to green energy propulsion for container ships. EDGE Navigation aims to bring economic and scalable non-fossil fuelled container ships to the market by 2025 and with Ulstein’s innovative approach we will have the flexibility in design to adapt the vessels to the charterers’ choice of fuel,” said EDGE Navigation managing director Jakob Tolstrup-Møller.
“The commercial shipping share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has reached about 3%. Declining cost of renewable energy and technology enables us to develop new efficient designs that will facilitate the energy transition in the maritime industry. The paradigm shift in energy used for maritime fuel will be inevitable. Any effort to reduce global GHG emissions must also invest in reducing GHG emissions in the global supply chain,” Mr Tolstrup-Møller said.
“With the ever-increasing demand for solutions that enable sustainable, responsible shipping, we are confident hydrogen fuel cells will play an important role in helping the marine industry meet CO2 reduction targets. We are delighted to collaborate with Ulstein and EDGE Navigation to explore the possibilities of powering a sustainable container vessel with the innovative fuel cell solution ABB is jointly developing with Ballard Power Systems,” added ABB Marine & Ports global product line manager for electric solutions Jostein Bogen.
Ballard Fuel Cell Systems Europe chief executive Jesper Themsen said “Our PEM fuel cell systems offer a zero-emissions solution with a particularly strong value proposition for medium- and heavy-duty motive applications, including marine vessels, buses, trucks and trains. We are excited to work with ABB in addressing requirements of the marine industry, as evidenced by Ulstein and EDGE Navigation’s decision to use Ballard’s fuel cell system for the X-BOW container vessel following DNV approval of the system”.
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