Corvus Energy opens hydrogen fuel cell testing area in Bergen

Corvus Energy is developing a large-scale proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell system for ships and will test them in Norway's Bergen.

PHOTO: Model of Corvus Energy's hydrogen fuel cell system. Corvus Energy

Corvus Energy is a Norwegian marine energy storage systems developer. On the project to develop the PEM fuel cells it has been joined by Japanese automaker Toyota, Norwegian oil firm Equinor, shipowners Norled and Wilhelmsen, ship designer LMG Marin, the University of South-Eastern Norway and the industry cluster NCE Maritime CleanTech.

The fuel cells are based on Toyota’s existing technology and will have operating power ranging from 320 kW to 10 MW. They will be combined with batteries to form a hybrid power system for commercial use.

The fuel cell system was approval by classification society DNV in March this year and a vessel trial is planned for next year, with a commercial launch set for 2024.

Corvus Energy’s chief executive Geir Bjørkeli sees marine hydrogen fuel cells as a “vital step toward the decarbonisation of shipping.”

Another Norway-based company, TECO 2030, recently confirmed that its hydrogen fuel cell factory in Narvik is set to start production this year. TECO 2030 aims to produce 1,200 MW of fuel cells annually by 2030, primarily for ship propulsion.

By Konica Bhatt

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