Concordia Damen and the STC group have selected Zepp.solutions to supply a hydrogen fuel cell system and hydrogen storage solution for the Ab Initio – a 67m ship which will be used for the practical training of students of maritime courses by the STC-Group. The Ab Initio is expected to enter service in September 2022.
The ship contains an electric powertrain, and the deck is covered with over 200m2 of solar panels. Knowing hydrogen will play an important role in the shipping industry, the STC board decided to also implement hydrogen technology on the ship in late 2021. At the end of March, Zepp.solutions was selected to supply the hydrogen fuel cell system and hydrogen storage system as a complete solution.
“We are extremely happy and grateful for the support of the various parties that enable the application of green hydrogen on the new training vessel,” said Jan Kweekel, member of the executive board of STC Group. “We give our pupils and students the opportunity to become proficient in working with green hydrogen during their training. This knowledge and experience can come in handy during a career in the maritime transport sector that is constantly developing.”
“We are proud and grateful to contribute to the development of the Ab Initio,” added Jonas Brendelberger, one of the co-founders of Zepp.solutions. “The cooperation with STC Group and Concordia Damen has so far been fantastic and we are looking forward to working with such a motivated team and driven yard. This project is a testament to Zepp.solutions establishing itself as a trusted name in the hydrogen industry.”
Zepp.solutions will supply a 45kW maritime fuel cell system that will charge the battery system of the Ab Initio as a range extender. The compact module features a fully integrated system design to reduce integration complexity and cost. Critical interfaces are minimized and the module includes all required fuel cell subsystems, making it an ideal drop-in solution.
The fuel cell system will be supplied with hydrogen gas by a 350 bar hydrogen storage system with a hydrogen capacity of 35kg. This combined solution is able to double the zero-emission sailing range of the vessel.
