Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Maritime Applications

Samfunnet vårt står ovenfor store utfordringer på klima og miljø, også innen maritim sektor. Norge har store ambisjoner og planer for å stimulere til grønn vekst i maritim industri. Det legges nå til rette for økt bruk av lav- og nullutslippsdrivstoff og til introduksjon av nye miljøvennlige løsninger. Hydrogen og brenselceller, der hydrogen produseres med null utslipp, kan være et alternativ for en rekke anvendelsesområder innen maritim sektor. Det overordnede målet med H2Maritime-prosjektet har vært å forske på og utvikle ny kompetanse på bruk av hydrogen og brenselceller i maritim sektor. Hovedmålet med prosjektet har vært å etablere designkriterier og driftsfilosofier for bunkring og lagring av hydrogen i skip og bruk av hydrogendrevne brenselceller for framdrift. Nye metoder, modeller og simuleringsverktøy har blitt utviklet og brukt til å fremskaffe ny vitenskapelig og teknisk innsikt i følgende indentifiserte utfordringer: • Hurtigfylling av trykksatt hydrogen (250-350 bar) i gasslagringstanker egnet for mindre farkoster (f.eks. hurtigbåter og bruksbåter) • Effektiv bunkring av flytende hydrogen og drift av hydrogentanker med flytende hydrogen egnet for større farkoster (f.eks. ferger og supplyskip) • Effektiv drift av store (1-10 MW) hydrogendrevne brenselcellesystemer for framdrift av skip • Sikkerhet rundt bruk av hydrogen (gass og flytende) innen ulike maritime anvendelsesområder H2Maritime-prosjektet har vært et forskningssamarbeid mellom Institutt for energiteknikk (IFE), Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU), Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge (USN), Sjøfartsdirektoratet og fem industripartnere (Equinor, ABB Marine, HAV Design, Umoe Advanced Composites, and Lloyd’s Register). IFE har vært prosjekteier og prosjektleder.

The H2Maritime project has provided new insight on how to refuel or bunker hydrogen (in gaseous or liquid form) in a safe and efficient manner and how to design and operate fuel cells for maritime propulsion systems. The methods and simulation tools developed in the project has been applied and validated against real-world use cases. The knowledge gained in the H2Maritime project has been and will continue to be transferred to many maritime applications and industries in Norway. Detailed simulations tools have been developed for use by the three research partners (IFE, NTNU, and USN), the five industry partners (Equinor, ABB, Umoe Advanced Composites, HAV Hydrogen, and Vysus Group), and the main public partner (The Norwegian Maritime Authority). Documentation on these simulation tools can upon request be made available from IFE, NTNU, and USN. The research activities in the H2Maritime-project on the fast filling of pressurized hydrogen tanks are relevant for several of the latest hydrogen projects currently being developed along the coast of Norway. Several companies have shown interest for the work done in the project on H2-refueling (e.g., Nel, HYON, and Everfuel). The research activities on hydrogen safety in human operations were already implemented in a study (use case) of an actual liquid hydrogen bunkering process for a ship. The knowledge built up on liquid hydrogen storage will also be further pursued in new research projects at IFE and USN. The research activity on low-temperature PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells systems is highly relevant for several maritime fuel cell systems suppliers and power system integrators in Norway (e.g., ABB, HAV Hydrogen, Hexagon Purus, Kongsberg Maritime, Corvus Energy, and TECO2030). Here it can also be noted that two researchers in the H2Martime-project (one researcher from IFE and the PhD student from NTNU) ended up getting directly relevant jobs on fuel cell systems in a maritime commercial company (TECO2030). The scientific results from the project have also been published for a wider audience in peer-reviewed articles in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, open reports at IFE and USN, among others. The work has also been presented at international and national conferences, seminars, and meetings. There is international interest for the H2Maritime project results and potential R&D collaborations on zero-emission maritime transport with several countries have been identified, e.g., Denmark, UK, USA, and Australia.

A significant reduction of the emissions can be achieved by introducing alternative, environmentally-friendly fuels in operation of the maritime fleet. Hydrogen produced with zero emissions can be an alternative solution for several maritime applications. The H2Maritime-project will focus on research and development of competence, methods and technology for the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in the maritime. The project consists of 3 research partners, 5 industry partners and one public organization, and is organized in three research areas (work packages): 1. Hydrogen bunkering and storage: The focus in this project is on the supply of liquid hydrogen (LH2) from a bunkering place on land to a vessel, either directly as low-pressure liquid hydrogen or indirectly as high-pressure gaseous hydrogen (GH2). The primary objectives here will be to develop design and operation strategies for efficient and safe refueling and bunkering systems for maritime applications. 2. Hydrogen safety: Safety strategies must be implemented to ensure safe operation during refueling and bunkering of hydrogen. Depressurization of gas during emergency situations, for example, must ensure the lowest risk possible. Specific codes and standards for hydrogen refueling and storage only cover small systems for hydrogen vehicles. The primary objective here will be to provide recommendations on how to design safe GH2 and LH2 refueling/bunkering and storage systems. 3. Fuel cells systems: The focus in H2Maritime is on large fuel cell (FC) systems for ships. There does not exist standard maritime FC systems, nor any guidelines for design and operation of hybrid FC systems for maritime applications. There is also a lack of knowledge on how to optimize the EMS and FC system controls with respect to fuel cell lifetime. The primary objective here will be to build in-depth knowledge on how to design and operate 1-10 MW maritime hybrid FC power systems.