Spanish ferry operator Baleària has confirmed that it will install an autonomous methanol-powered electricity generation system on its electric ferry Cap de Barbaria.

The eNomad system, manufactured by Catalan company Methanol Reformer, will produce hydrogen from e-methanol to generate auxiliary electricity on the vessel, which operates between Ibiza and Formentera. The installation is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

The system will be the first application of methanol-as-energy-carrier technology for hydrogen production on a ferry in Europe, according to the company.

The Cap de Barbaria, which entered service in 2023, was designed to accommodate a hydrogen system capable of supplying part of the vessel's energy requirements. The eNomad system combines electricity generation from hydrogen produced through e-methanol reforming with what the company describes as a modular, compact, and autonomous design.

The hydrogen generated will power a fuel cell to produce auxiliary electricity, supporting battery recharging and reducing the use of conventional generators. Baleària said it will use the installation to test different combinations of batteries and fuel cells in the ship's electric motor.

Javier Cervera, corporate director of institutional relations and energy transition at Baleària, commented: "This compact unit allows us to have a small-scale green hydrogen experimental laboratory in a real operational environment and on a route as sensitive and emblematic as the one connecting Ibiza and Formentera. We are once again pioneering the technologies that will make zero-emission navigation possible in the future."

Javier Torres, CEO of Methanol Reformer, remarked: "We are proud to collaborate with Baleària on this project, which demonstrates how technological innovation can transform maritime mobility and contribute to a more sustainable energy future."

The project is part of the BUCEMTO initiative, funded by Next Generation EU funds.

The Cap de Barbaria operates as Spain's first electric passenger and cargo ferry with zero emissions during port approaches and stays. Baleària claims the vessel has reduced CO2 emissions by 33% compared to the vessel that previously operated the route.

Baleària operates 11 vessels powered by dual-fuel natural gas engines, three of which use bio-LNG. The company is also developing plans for fully electric ferries, including a proposed green corridor between Tarifa and Tangier. The operator stated that it reduced its carbon footprint per passenger by almost 10% in 2024.