Genevos has been selected as the marine fuel cell supplier for the £2.2 million HIMET (Hydrogen in an Integrated Maritime Energy Transition) project, which will trial a zero-emission auxiliary power solution on a RoRo ferry.
HIMET is one of 55 projects selected for funding as part of the Department for Transport’s flagship Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which is being conducted in cooperation with Innovate UK. The initiative will investigate ways to decarbonize ferries and shore-side operations in ports.
To decarbonize ferries, a variety of solutions will be developed and proven over the course of this seven-month project, including hydrogen storage, on-board auxiliary power generation via a hydrogen fuel cell, and hydrogen use in a conventional ferry propulsion engine.
Genevos has been selected by EMEC Hydrogen to supply one of their newly launched Hydrogen Power Modules (HPMs), which will be put on the deck of an Orkney Ferries RoRo ferry, the MV Shapinsay, for demonstration purposes. The HPM was chosen primarily for its ‘plug and play’ marine approach, which integrates both fuel cell and power management systems.
Genevos will assist HIMET partners in facilitating uptake across the UK and farther afield, showing the marine working methods of the future.
Phil Sharp, CTO at Genevos said: “It is an exciting opportunity to be working with EMEC, one of the world’s renowned clean-energy R&D centres, to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen fuel cells as a zero emissions solution for ferries.
“Hydrogen has been identified as a vital clean fuel for decarbonising vessels and HIMET is a valuable project that is taking immediate action to help address net-zero solutions and accelerate this vital clean energy transition.”
James Walker, EMEC’s Hydrogen Development Manager said: “We are pleased to be working with Genevos as it is important that we demonstrate green hydrogen innovations that are coming forward to provide solutions for hard to decarbonise sectors.”
“EMEC foresees significant opportunities in maritime innovation, with hydrogen and hydrogen derivative fuels expected to play a vital role in decarbonising the sector.
“Building on the knowledge and experience from various green hydrogen projects that have instigated the development of a hydrogen economy locally, the HIMET project will showcase emerging and innovative technologies which will help pave the way to decarbonising maritime activities.
“While the project will focus on addressing challenges in the Orkney context, we believe our findings will be applicable to all island and coastal environments where vessels provide vital lifeline services.”
