Realising the world’s first sea-going hydrogen-powered RoPax ferry and a business model for European islands
The Institute of Networked Energy Systems is one of the partner organisations involved in the “HySeas III” research project developing the world’s first sea-going hydrogen-powered ferry with fuel cells. The role of the DLR scientists within the larger project is to provide comprehensive analyses. These include, but are not limited to, economic and environmental assessments and evaluating the expected job creation and market potential.
Duration: July 2018 until March 2022
Funded by: "Horizon 2020", the framework programme for research and innovation of the European Union, funding agreement no. 769417
Project Participants: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited - CMAL (Great Britain) Institute of Networked Energy Systems University of St. Andrews (Great Britain) Orkney Island Council (Great Britain) Ballard Power Systems (Denmark) Kongsberg Maritime (Norway) Interferry (Belgium) McPhy (France)
Project Manager at the Institute of Networked Energy Systems: Juan Camilo Gómez Trillos
Project Description: For several years a surplus of renewable energies has been produced on the Scottish Orkney Islands by wind, wave and tidal power plants. Due to limited local grid capacity, these surpluses are converted directly into hydrogen and then reconverted into electrical energy on board using fuel cells
HySeas III follows on from its two predecessor projects which laid the scientific foundations for its implementation. The aim is to enable passenger and vehicle transportation between the islands of Orkney and Shapinsay from 2021 using a type of ship operating on renewable sources. This project is examining whether the ferry can serve as a model for further ferry connections throughout Europe. Essential factors are the length of the route, the capacity for accommodating people and vehicles, acceptance by operators and the wider population as well as the possibility of providing hydrogen by means of renewable energies in the region.
Further information on the research project HySeas III: