New Fuel Cell Development Project to Solve the Puzzle of New Drivers for Ocean Shipping

NORWAY – SCANDINAVIA – WORLDWIDE – The protagonists involved in the latest programme to attack the problems of cleaning up marine fuels say they have high hopes of reducing emissions from shipping by 40 to 100%. The partners, from the worlds of maritime, research and development and oil and gas energy are now constructing a pilot system that can use different types of fuel.

The main partners in the project are Odfjell, Prototech, Wärtsilä and Lundin Energy Norway. Odfjell has leading expertise in global shipping, Prototech in fuel cell technology, Wärtsilä in maritime technology and energy, and Lundin Energy Norway in oil and gas. Around 90% of the world trade is transported by ships and maritime transport is still the most environmentally efficient way of carrying goods, but to achieve Norwegian shipping’s target of becoming climate neutral by 2050, new, energy-efficient solutions must be introduced.

The project aims to develop a technology that can provide emission-free operation over long distances. Battery solutions are currently not suitable for operating ships that sail long distances, the so-called ‘deep-sea’ fleet. This fleet consists of around 50,000 ships globally and thus constitutes a significant share of international shipping. It is impossible to achieve the goal of climate neutrality without finding solutions for this significant segment.

Latest available technology opens up possibilities for the introduction of many different types of fuel, including green ammonia and LNG. With this flexibility, vessel operators are able choose fuel according to availability. This new project will first be tested at the Sustainable Energy catapult centre in Norway before installation on board a chemical tanker. Bernt Skeie, CEO of Prototech spoke of what was envisaged:

“Our tests show a CO₂ reduction of as much as 40-45% when using LNG, compared to current solutions. Increased efficiency and reduced fuel consumption also provide significant cost savings, and the ship will be able to sail significantly longer on the same amount of energy.

”The system will also be ready to operate completely emission-free from the locations where, for instance, ammonia is available for bunkering. The technology also enables direct capture of CO₂, which will be yet another alternative for emission-free operation when logistics for CO₂ management become available.”

The unique feature of the new technology is its high energy efficiency and the flexibility that enables significant emission reductions already from day one with the use of currently available infrastructure for LNG, while also preparing for emission-free operation in line with the development of value chains and infrastructure for sustainable fuels in the years to come. Erik Hjortland, Technology Director at Odfjell SE, explains:

“Ships are to be operated for 20-30 years, and we need flexible solutions that can meet future emission requirements. We do not have time to wait, we have to think about zero emissions already now. The fuel cell project is one of the paths we are pursuing. We focus on machinery rather than focusing on one single type of fuel. Fuel cell technology gives us flexibility that ensures environmentally efficient operation regardless of fuel changes that may occur in the years ahead.”

Ingve Sørfonn, Technical Director in Wärtsilä said that the new energy solution has the potential to take a big step closer to the goal of climate neutrality, something which can be useful to offshore oil and gas operations as well as deep sea shipping. So far, the project has been funded with support from Gassnova, a state enterprise for carbon capture and NFR, the research Council of Norway, plus the participants themselves.

Now the project is constructing a 1.2. MW prototype fuel cell that first will be tested at the Sustainable Energy catapult centre at Stord, Norway prior to outfitting the chemical tanker. Harald Solberg, CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, emphasised the potential this project demonstrates, saying:

“The development of this fuel cell is an example of how forward-looking shipping companies and our unique maritime expertise have the prerequisites to drive new solutions through a broad collaboration within the maritime cluster. In the long run, scaling up such solutions will be of great importance in achieving our climate goals, they will have business value, and they can create new jobs in Norway. Norwegian shipping has set ambitious climate goals. This type of project is very important for us to be able to develop solutions that quickly reduce emissions.”

Photo: Project partners present the solution to the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg at the Sustainable Energy Norwegian Catapult Centre. From left: Bernt Skeie (CEO, Prototech), Harald Fotland (COO, Oddfjell), Erik Hjortland (Vice President of Technology, Oddfjell), Hans-Petter Nesse (Managing Director, Wärtsilä Norway) and Willy Vågen (CEO, Sustainable Energy Norwegian Catapult Centre).