First Ship with High Temperature Fuel Cell for Greener Power Supply

By Mike Schuler On October 2, 2009

September 2009 saw the initial operation of the first high temperature fuel cell to be run on board of a ship. The operation was launched as part of the FellowSHIP research project (Fuel Cells for Low Emission Ships): a project to test fully integrated on-board fuel cells – both on board of vessels, as well as offshore platforms – and to make them commercially viable.

The Tognum supplied HotModule is scheduled for service on the Norwegian offshore supply vessel “Viking Lady” to first test its suitability for green on-board power generation by means of fuel cells. The HotModule is fully integrated in the existing on-board power generation infrastructure of the vessel, delivering 320 kW of the current power supply requirements, whilst being powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The integration of fuel cells on board ships serves to significantly reduce health-hazardous and climate-critical emissions: an estimated total of 4,755 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), 33 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), as well as 180 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) – that equal to about 20,000 cars – can be avoided this way every year. The electrochemical process seen in fuel cells mainly generates water and heat.

Participants in this project include MTU Onsite Energy, as well as a number of internationally renowned companies like Wärtsilä Ship Design Norway, Wärtsilä Automation Norway and Eidesvik Offshore ASA.

Mike Schuler

After graduating the Catholic University of America in 2005 with a B.S.B.A. in Finance, Mike went on to Tahoe to help with the launch of gCaptain's sister site, UnofficialNetworks.com. In June of 2008 Mike joined gCaptain.com as the first full-time employee in charge of the day-to-day operations of gCaptain.com and Unofficial Networks, LLC.