To date, the environmental requirements imposed on the shipping industry have been relatively mild compared to land-based industry. This, in combination with the continued use of increasingly expensive fossil fuel and the growing call for cut in greenhouse gas emissions, poses a global challenge. A significant solution to this will be the development of fuel cell technology for ships – which, compared with conventional power-generating equipment, offer improved efficiency and reduced atmospheric emissions.

“The FellowSHIP project, initiated in 2003, aims to develop and demonstrate complete integrated hybrid fuel cell systems in ships, and to qualify that technology for future use. Results from the initial research phase conclude that fuel cell technology can be applied in commercial shipping in the near future. On this basis, a full-scale demonstrator of an auxiliary power plant is planned for 2008,” says Tomas Tronstad, who will demonstrate a small-scale model at the ONS.

The project is led by DNV and includes the companies Eidesvik Offshore, MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, Vik-Sandvik and Wärtsilä Automation Norway. The first phase also included Wallenius Marine and Wärtsilä Corporation.

Clean, efficient and comfortable:

“We have proved numerous advantages to this groundbreaking technology. The power plant efficiency, the operational costs, and the reduction of emissions are significantly improved in relation to conventional engines,” explains Tomas Tronstad.

The only “exhaust” of fuel cells is heat and water. If fuelled by carbon-containing fuels such as natural gas, the exhaust will contain CO2, but reduced by up to 50% compared to diesel engines run on marine bunker fuel. Fuel cell technology is inherently silent and vibration-free. This increases passenger comfort and improves the working environment for the crew. Further, the simpler designs with fewer moving parts require far less maintenance. Also, fuel cell technology is modular, enabling systems to be configured for efficient use of onboard space. This versatility, coupled with reduced costs and clean emissions, makes fuel cell technology the bow wave of the future of commercial shipping.