Genevos to develop solid oxide fuel cells for ships

Marine fuel cell developer Genevos will develop a modular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power unit for commercial vessels and cruise ships.

IMAGE: Genevos' solid oxide fuel cell. Genevos

As a part of this project, Genevos will supply its 100 kW SOFC power unit, compatible with vessels running on LNG or biomethane as primary fuels, which can deliver “significant power” output for multi-megawatt (MW) applications.

SOFCs are high-efficiency fuel cells that generate electricity from fuels like natural gas, ammonia, or hydrogen through electrochemical reactions. These power units operate at high temperatures.

The power unit is “engineered specifically for energy intensive ocean-going maritime applications and capable of processing multiple fuel types,” the company added.

The application will be first used on a research vessel operated by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Genevos said.

The project is a part of European Union-endorsed HELENUS (High Efficiency Low Emission Nautical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) consortium.

Notably, the EU-backed HELENUS project brings together shipbuilders, technology providers, classification societies, and end-users to develop and demonstrate SOFC systems for onboard power and propulsion.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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