ClassNK greenlights Yanmar Power Technology’s hydrogen fuel cell system

Japanese classification society ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a maritime hydrogen fuel cell system developed by Yanmar Power Technology.

PHOTO: Yanmar Power Technology's demonstration boat powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Yanmar PT

Yanmar Power Technology (Yanmar PT) is the renewable tech arm of Japanese engine maker Yanmar.

The hydrogen fuel cell system consists of eight high-pressure hydrogen tanks, gas valve units, batteries and a 300-kilowatt (kW) motor, according to Yanmar PT. It enables vessels to reach a speed of 22 knots.

Yanmar PT conducted sea trials of the hydrogen fuel cell system on a demonstration leisure boat in 2021. The system is set to be deployed on larger vessels by 2025.

“Yanmar is also verifying shore-to-ship high-pressure hydrogen refueling technology and implemented the world's first 70 [megapascal] MPa high-pressure hydrogen refueling using a mobile hydrogen station,” the company said on its website.

Hydrogen’s potential beyond short-sea shipping

Hydrogen-based technologies are making their way into short-sea shipping due to green hydrogen's zero-emission properties.

Fuel cells generate power through an electrochemical reaction rather than combustion. This enables a ship powered by fuel cells to run on alternative fuels like green hydrogen without requiring pilot fuel for ignition, unlike internal combustion engines (ICE).

However, hydrogen-powered fuel cells currently in application have limited potential for powering large ocean-going vessels.

Larger vessels will require high-efficiency fuel cells for longer journeys, like solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). As SOFC technology - primarily using hydrogen as a fuel - is still in its early stages, it may take some time before ocean-going vessels can run on hydrogen.

By Konica Bhatt

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