TECO 2030 receives second EU grant for hydrogen-powered ferry project

The €13.50 million ($14.80 million) grant falls under the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Europe scheme, said the Norway-headquartered company.

PHOTO: An illustration of TECO 2030's fuel cell system which is powered by hydrogen. TECO 2030

The grant will be used for the project that aims to develop a 35-meter, 300-passenger capacity, hydrogen-powered vessel that will operate in southern Europe, stated TECO 2030. The ferry will be run on a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system, which is designed for an electrical capacity of 400 kW (kilowatt).

Currently, the company is testing the fuel cell system in a simulated environment. It also stated that it is working to develop a functional hydrogen refueling system for this vessel.

For this project, TECO 2030 is working with 14 partners from seven different European countries, including, maritime engineering firms, academic institutions, a classification society and a shipyard, it further added.

“We expect the grant preparation process to be finalized later this year, and the project start date to be around January 2024,” TECO 2030 added in a statement.

Earlier this year, TECO 2030 was awarded a €5 million ($5.4 million) grant under the same scheme for a hydrogen fuel cell retrofit project to produce a 100 kW. Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack at its Narvik manufacturing facility in Norway.

“This project has the potential to enable seaborne passenger transport, without any emissions,” said Tore Enger, chief executive of TECO 2030.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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