High speed hydrogen ferry to be built in Norway

High speed hydrogen ferry to be built in Norway

December 19, 2018 0 By Erin Kilgore

A new hydrogen fuel cell ferry project has been awarded funding in the Nordic nation

A high speed hydrogen ferry and a short-sea fuel cell-powered freighter have been commissioned in Norway and will receive funding via Norway’s PILOT-E program. A grant was awarded to Hyon to bring the project to life together with its partners.

The goal of the hydrogen maritime projects is for each vessel to have zero-emission propulsion via fuel cells.

This will be achieved by using cost-efficient hydrogen produced from electrolysis based on renewable energy, according to the funding announcement revealed in a recent Hyon press release.

Hyon is a joint venture that is owned wholly by Nel ASA, Hexagon Composites ASA and PowerCell Sweden AB. Hyon functions as the single point of contact provision of products and services related to hydrogen. These include hydrogen production, distribution and storage as well as dispensing systems and fuel cells. Hyon’s primary focus is the maritime industry.

The high speed hydrogen ferry project, which is known as Project ZEFF, Zero Emission Fast Ferry, will reportedly use foils that lift the vessel out of the water. The ferry will operate with CO2, NOx, SOx and particular matter emissions, and power to propulsion will be generated by fuel cells powered by hydrogen and batteries.

The high speed hydrogen ferry with have an estimated 45% less energy consumption than current vessels.

The ferry can also be made with varying size and capacity, carrying anywhere from 100 passenger to 300.

Beyond the ferry project, Hyon will also be a part of the building of Project SeaShuttle, a zero emission coastal freighter with automated cargo handling. The ship’s purpose will be to transport cargo from road to sea. It will include autonomous cargo handing to achieve cost-effectiveness. The goal of this project is to develop a hydrogen and fuel cells container transport for short-sea market that is profitable and emission-free.

“We’re very proud to announce our participation in these projects,” said Tomas Tronstad, Managing Director of Hyon in the PR.

“The projects will develop unique solutions for two very interesting maritime markets for hydrogen; the high-speed craft market and the short-sea freighter market.”

high speed hydrogen ferry - ship in Norway - Norwegian flagThe PILOT-E program is the result of a collaboration of Innovation Norway, the Research Council and Enova. The program provides funding for Norwegian trade and industry.

Both the high speed hydrogen ferry and the short-sea freighter projects are set to commence in early 2019.

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