TECO 2030 and partners launch hydrogen fuel cell tanker concept

Norwegian engineering company TECO 2030 has designed a tanker powered by hydrogen fuel cells along with its partners Ektank AB, Shell Shipping and Maritime and DNV.

PHOTO: The proposed Hy-Ekotank concept design. Fuel cells with compressed or liquid hydrogen storage will be retrofitted to existing Ektank vessels. TECO 2030

It says its Hy-Ekotank tanker design uses hydrogen fuel cells and can eliminated greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) on voyages and in port.

The concept could become a first-mover in this segment and help to meet the climate targets set by the European Union (EU), TECO 2030 says.

The EU has committed to reduce GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.

TECO 2030 specialises in developing hydrogen fuel cells for ships and heavy machinery. In March 2021, TECO 2030 announced it is building Norway’s first large-scale hydrogen fuel cell factory in the northern Norwegian city of Narvik.

The plant will eventually have a production capacity of more than 1 gigawatts/year and primarily produce hydrogen fuel cells for ships. The fuel cells will convert hydrogen to electroactivity to power ships, emitting only hot air and vapor in the process.

Switching from traditional marine fuels to zero-carbon alternatives such as hydrogen can reduce emissions from the shipping industry substantially, TECO 2030 says.

Last year, the company received a tax break as indirect support from the Norwegian government for large-scale production of hydrogen fuel cells.