A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between renewable energy company e1 Marine and naval design and engineering business Navtek through which they will co-develop hydrogen-powered low-carbon emission vessels and port applications for the European market.
The agreement will also see e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen generator technology with PEM fuel-cell power solutions incorporated into Navtek maritime applications.
The duo’s first project will be the development of a 120-160m-long hydrogen-powered car carrier design which will require 8-10MW of propulsion. Following this, the partnership will design a methanol fuel-cell powered hybrid tugboat.
Under the agreement, Navtek will be responsible for the naval architecture and overall vessel design, in addition to supplying electrical propulsion system design. The company will also deliver power system and controls integration, and ship assembly and construction. Furthermore, e1 Marine will provide its methanol-to-hydrogen reformers to the vessels and best practices for system integration.
e1 Marine’s system produces no NOx, SOx or particulates, and also produces less CO2 than a diesel generator. Hydrogen produced by e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen generator meets ISO 14687 (2019) purity specifications for all PEMFC applications.
“Navtek is spearheading innovation to create the next generation of vessel designs that can seamlessly reduce total emissions,” explained Ferhat Acuner, general manager and board member, Navtek. “Our agreement with e1 Marine is the latest in a series of collaborations that brings together specialist technologies and expertise to meet the diverse needs of fleets and port operations in their journeys to reach a zero-emission future.”
“e1 Marine is committed to ensuring that safe, efficient and affordable hydrogen is available at scale for the shipping industry,” said Robert Schluter, managing director, e1 Marine. “Collaboration is a key component in the decarbonization of the sector, and this partnership with Navtek will enable us to combine our expertise and open up opportunities for car carriers and tow boats to accelerate the decarbonization process.”
The agreement was finalized at The International Workboat Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 30, 2022.