New maritime technology
The first commercial ship to be powered by fuel cells was the Viking Lady launched in September 2009, at Eidesvik in Norway. This occurred as part of the FellowSHIP collaborative project, which aims to develop fuel cells for shipping and offshore energy supply.
A fuel cell transforms chemical energy to electrical energy, for instance, when hydrogen and oxygen react to produce water and electricity. A fuel cell is far more efficient than a traditional combustion engine. Therefore, operating fuel cells is more environmentally friendly than conventional motors and emissions are less. If the fuel is carbon-based, such as natural gas, the fuel cells will release CO2, but to a lesser extent than a normal combustion engine. If the fuel is carbon-free, such as hydrogen, the “exhaust” will only be water and heat. Shipping is a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and there is a great need for new, climate-friendly technology.
Collaborative projects such as FellowSHIP can be an important contribution to solving the environmental challenges of the maritime industry. The FellowSHIP project is a collaboration between Eidesvik Offshore, Det Norske Veritas, Vik-Sandvik and WärtsiläShip Power Automation. Eidesvik has collaborated with Bellona since 2001 in developing environmentally-friendly maritime fuel systems.