DNV has given Ballard Power Systems’ maritime fuel cell module FCwaveTM its first Type Approval in Europe.
The Type Approval is a critical milestone in commercializing Ballard’s fuel cell technology for marine applications since it allows fuel cells to be used in zero-emission maritime systems. The Type Approval procedure is lengthy, requiring a series of simulations and testing at Ballard’s worldwide Marine Center of Excellence in Hobro, Denmark, where the FCwaveTM is designed and built.
“The new FCwaveTM classification has eliminated a major hurdle in the maritime industry’s deployment of zero-emission technology and meeting global emission reduction objectives,” says Sren stergaard Hansen, General Manager, Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S. “DNV’s Type Approval is critical in instilling market trust in hydrogen fuel cells and confirms that FCwaveTM has been developed, tested, and is ready for installation. The Type Approved FCwaveTM module allows us to provide the first deployment-ready fuel cell system, allowing the maritime industry to take the next step toward zero-emission operations.”
The International Maritime Organization has set lofty goals for ships to reduce GHG emissions by at least half by 2050. The high-power FCwaveTM module is a versatile solution that can meet various vessel types’ energy demands as well as onshore electricity. The scalable 200kW power module may be used as a direct substitute for traditional diesel engines. The Type Approval certificate verifies that the design satisfies the design’s strict safety, functional, design, and documentation criteria for worldwide maritime commercialization.
