Ricardo, a renowned UK engineering company, is poised to make significant contributions to the sustainable HYdrogen powered Shipping (sHYpS) project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.
The company’s involvement will center around leading the specification, design, construction, and testing of a 375kW fuel cell module, as well as designing a large-scale multi-MW power plant that integrates multiple fuel cell modules. The ultimate goal is to deploy a containerized solution on passenger ships, aiding the maritime sector in its challenging journey towards decarbonization.
Adrian Schaffer, President of Emerging Mobility at Ricardo, acknowledged the shipping industry’s uphill battle in achieving zero-emissions navigation to meet future global regulatory targets. He expressed enthusiasm for Ricardo’s participation in the project, stating, “This project is at the forefront of innovation, with the prospect of using hydrogen fuel cell technology to support the industry in meeting its sustainability objectives.” He further emphasized Ricardo’s growing expertise and experience in hydrogen and fuel cell technology, highlighting their commitment to providing clean and efficient solutions that reduce carbon emissions across various sectors, including automotive and aerospace.
Partnering across Europe
The sHYpS project boasts a consortium of 13 partners hailing from six European countries. Its objective is to implement and demonstrate a containerized hydrogen solution on a Viking cruise ship as part of a hybrid power plant by 2024/2025. The project aims to deploy hydrogen storage technology, complete gas handling, and an energy management system on one of Viking’s newbuild fjords cruise vessels. Following initial testing and shakedown, the project will expand to include a 6MW PEM FC-based powertrain, enabling a 14-day fjord cruise with a 50% reduction in emissions.
Classification and testing
Ricardo will collaborate with fellow consortium member Lloyd’s Register to initiate the classification process for its segment of the system in accordance with the evolving classification rules. Testing of the first module will be conducted in Ricardo’s newly established 400kW hydrogen fuel cell test chamber at the company’s UK headquarters. Ricardo and Lloyd’s Register are participating in the Horizon Europe program with the support of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee.
Mike Biddle, Executive Director of Net Zero at Innovate UK, praised Ricardo’s achievement in securing Horizon Europe funding and expressed anticipation for the project’s outcomes. Biddle encouraged other entities considering participation in Horizon Europe to seize the opportunity and utilize UKRI’s funding guarantee and advisory resources while awaiting the UK’s formal association with the EU program.
