PowerCell Sweden AB has received its first order for two PowerCell S3 prototype stacks from the marine industry which Swiss Hydrogen will install on a ship powered by photovoltaics.
Per Wassén, CEO, PowerCell Sweden AB, said: “The marine industry is a very interesting area, in which our capacity to deliver electricity without emissions is extremely important. This order comprises two PowerCell S3 prototypes.”
PowerCell Sweden will be responsible for the fuel cells and Swiss Hydrogen will manufacture the system and conduct adjustments to certify it for the marine environment.
The order is a result of the collaboration agreement, which PowerCell signed with Swiss Hydrogen in April 2016.
“Hydrogen gas will replace diesel in a marine industry that is forced to reduce its emissions. The ship in question will be a mobile show-case that describes how effective and reliable the hydrogen gas technology is in marine environments”, said Alexandre Closset, CEO, Swiss Hydrogen SA.
This new ship will be supplied with a system that encompasses on board production of hydrogen gas from solar electricity, storage of hydrogen gas and two fuel cells each one 30 kW, which amounts to 80hp in total.
PowerCell has had many requests concerning marine applications in the past but this is the first time that the company’s PowerCell S3 stacks will be tested together with a partner in a marine environment.
The uptake of fuel cell technology is increasing. Norway was an early adopter of the technology and over the next few years will have car ferries, passenger ferries and a fishing boat powered by the technology.
By Anne-Marie Causer
