Toshiba ESS and Echandia to develop hydrogen application in shipping
The two companies will explore future collaboration to expand the market for zero-emission vessels in Europe.
Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corporation agreed with Echandia to explore the possibility of jointly developing a market for ships that use pure hydrogen fuel cell systems in order to respond to the accelerating electrification of shipping in Europe.
The two companies will explore technical collaboration to develop a pure hydrogen fuel cell system, which will be equipped with Toshiba ESS’s pure hydrogen fuel cells, for marine applications suitable for long time continuous operation.
Headquartered in Sweden, Echandia is developing energy storage solutions for maritime electrification in Europe and elsewhere. They are forming partnerships with various companies and undertaking projects aimed at decarbonization and electrification, including an order for fuel cell systems and heavy-duty batteries for high-speed ferries to operate in Stockholm, Sweden.
Echandia and Toshiba ESS will consider the possibility of incorporating the next-generation pure hydrogen fuel cell currently under development by Toshiba ESS into the electric propulsion systems for ships being developed by Echandia, with the joint aim of commercializing a longer-life pure hydrogen fuel cell system around 2024. By integrating these next-generation pure hydrogen fuel cells, the systems for ships currently under development are expected to last approximately 200% longer.
Magnus Eriksson, CEO Echandia, said, “Echandia is proud to announce this partnership with Toshiba, a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology. We have a long history of working successfully together, and I am excited to strengthen the relationship further. Toshiba will be an invaluable partner in terms of developing our fuel cell systems.”
Shigehiro Kawahara, VP of the Energy Aggregation Div., said, “Striving toward the realization of a hydrogen society, we aim to provide high value-added hydrogen solutions by integrating related technologies such as renewable energy-derived hydrogen energy.”
