Shipping is vital to trade and economies worldwide but is sector where emissions are considered hard-to-abate. Under the agreement, Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd (Shell), Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (KSOE), Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and Doosan Fuel Cell Co., Ltd (DFCC), agreed to launch a vessel powered by a HyAxiom-developed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) in 2025.
The agreement underscores fuel cell technology’s potential in decarbonising the marine transportation industry and the role that HyAxiom can play in helping major industry players achieve their climate goals.
“Fuel cells are a critical technology to cut carbon emissions and help us combat climate change at scale” said Jeff Hyungrak Chung, President & Chief Executive Officer of HyAxiom. “HyAxiom is proud to partner with Shell to demonstrate the viability of solid oxide fuel cells as a low to zero carbon way to power the shipping industry.”
Under the agreement (following feasibility studies), HyAxiom will design and develop the SOFC Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) incorporating the 2 x 300 kilowatts (kW) sub-systems for long-range maritimedemonstration; DFCC will manufacture, carry out factory tests and deliver the product; Shell will charter the demonstration vessel; KSOE will assist with system integration and technological deployment; and DNV will provide technical and safety expertise.
Once launched, the vessel will operate for one year, during which the parties will collect valuable data on how to further integrate SOFC technology into current vessels and inform how future vessels can be powered by SOFC technology at scale.
The consortium agreement was signed during a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea.
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