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Tue 17 Jan 2017, 08:51 GMT

Marine fuel cell project secures EU funding


System based on the PowerCell S3 fuel cell stack to be developed for ships.

Fuel cell company PowerCell Sweden AB has confirmed that its 'Maranda' consortium has been granted EU funding for the development of a marine fuel cell system.

As reported by Bunker Index previously, PowerCell Sweden, together with other partners of the Maranda consortium, applied for EU funding through the EU's Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (FCH 2 JU) for the development of a system based on the PowerCell S3 fuel cell stack for integration and testing in marine environments. This application has now been granted; the project is to receive EUR 3 million in funding with PowerCell Sweden receiving EUR 982,000.

Together with other members of the consortium, PowerCell Sweden says it will embark on developing a "complete and competitive" fuel cell system with two units of PowerCell S3 fuel cell stacks. The system is to provide power to a vessel's electrical equipment as well as for dynamic positioning during measurements.

The PowerCell S3 is a scalable prototype in the 20-100 kilowatt (kW) range that is designed to use pure hydrogen as fuel. The system is due to be installed on board the arctic research vessel Aranda, operated by the SYKE Marine Research Centre, and is to be monitored and validated during an 18-month period. The project is scheduled to run for 48 months, starting from 1st March 2017.

"We are enthusiastic to start this project together with the other partners of the consortium. A marine power solution free from noise and pollution is important for the environment and this solution opens many fields of applications.", said Per Ekdunge, CTO of PowerCell Sweden AB.

Back in November, PowerCell Sweden received its first marine order for two PowerCell S3 prototype stacks, which Maranda consortium partner SwissHydrogen S.A. is using on a ship powered by photovoltaics. The vessel is being supplied with a system that encompasses onboard production of hydrogen gas from solar electricity, storage of hydrogen gas and two 30-kW fuel cells.

Speaking at the time, Alexandre Closset, CEO of SwissHydrogen S.A., said: "Hydrogen gas will replace diesel in a marine industry that is forced to reduce its emissions. The ship in question will be a mobile showcase that describes how effective and reliable the hydrogen gas technology is in marine environments."

Also in November, PowerCell Sweden said that "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".

The Maranda consortium consists of the following European companies and research institutions: ABB Oy (Finland), OMB Saleri S.p.A. (Italy), PersEE (France), Suomen ymparistokeskus (Finland), Swiss Hydrogen SA (Switzerland), and Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy (Finland).

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