Tech Trio to develop LOHC-SOFC power system for Maritime
Alma Clean Power, Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies and Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime announced a joint development agreement (JDA) to engineer a fully integrated LOHC-SOFC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) power system for the Enova supported project “HyNjord”, focussing on a 100-kilowatt pilot powertrain to be demonstrated on board the Østensjø Rederi operated offshore supply vessel Edda Ferd.
The agreements also open up for hydrogen-powered vessels on megawatt-scale later. The innovation combines hydrogen release from the LOHC with direct conversion into power by an adjacent SOFC unit to the benefit of high efficiency. The key to this lies in using the SOFC device’s excess heat to meet the LOHC release unit’s heat demand. Hydrogenious’ LOHC solution provides a safe and easy method for handling hydrogen as a fuel, facilitating the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.
“With this partnership, we leverage synergies between Alma’s SOFC solution and our LOHC technology and take the next milestone in pioneering the use of hydrogen as a safe and efficient zero emission fuel to ships”, says Dr Daniel Teichmann.
Øystein Skår adds: “Our goal is to develop a zero emission power solution for shipping, and with this agreement we join forces to combine the LOHC technology with SOFC technology to develop an efficient way to produce power on board ships without emissions.”
Dr Holger Buech explains: „We’re very excited about this partnership, since it will allow us to develop and realise an integrated LOHC-SOFC system, which combines safe release of hydrogen from an easy-to-handle energy carrier with a fuel cell of high electrical efficiency. More than that, we will lift a special technological treasure by integrating the systems regarding their heat balances, thereby creating a thermal yin and yang of hydrogen technology.”
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies is a global market leader of liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) solutions in the fields of hydrogen storage and transportation. Instead of using gaseous or liquified hydrogen, hydrogen is chemically bound to the carrier material benzyl toluene, a thermal oil. Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime utilizes this specific LOHC tech to assemble and market a shipshape LOHC-fuel cell powertrain, with compelling safety and handling advantages for shipping. The hydrogen is directly released on board from the LOHC in fuel cell grade.
Bernt Skeie concludes: “We’re excited to partner with Hydrogenious on such an important project, enabling this ground-breaking technology to reach the market and support ship owners on their decarbonization journey.”
