For the retrofitting of its second inland container vessel, Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has selected Ballard Power Systems to provide PEM fuel cells to the FPS Waal vessel.
Under the new agreement, Ballard Power Systems will provide six DNV type-approved FCwave fuel cell modules to enable the vessel to conduct zero emission operations using green hydrogen fuel. Once the retrofit is complete, the Waal will have a fuel cell capacity of 1.2MW.
Similar to the retrofitting of the FPS Maas vessel, the FPS Waal’s conventional internal combustion engine will be removed and replaced with a zero-emissions propulsion system which consists of PEM fuel cells, hydrogen storage, battery packs and an electric drive train.
FPS estimates that upon completion of project, the Waal vessel will have an estimated 1,200kW of installed power and a cargo capacity of 200 TEU.
The power capacity, size and design of the FPS Waal’s propulsion system have all been optimized because of higher energy consumption rates on the Rotterdam to Duisburg section of the Rhine, the route on which the vessel will operate.
The retrofit project is supported by funding from the Flagships project and the ZEM Ports NS project.
“A key benefit of joining the Flagships consortium was getting the opportunity to work with world-leading technology companies like Ballard,” said Dirk de Jong, project manager, Future Proof Shipping. “Teaming up with Ballard for the provision of our fuel cells gives us the equipment and expertise we can rely on and together we are blazing a new trail toward zero-emissions inland shipping for all.”
