Hydrogen fuel cell system gets DNV AIP

The Corvus Energy hydrogen fuel cell system, developed through the H2NOR project has received approval in principle (AiP) from the classification society DNV.

Concept

Above all, the hydrogen fuel cell system can serve as the main power source. Alternatively, as an additional power source to increase fuel flexibility onboard. Thus, with water being the only exhaust, the system will enable; to operate in any harbor and protected area today and in the future.

As explained, the solution enables simplified placement of the system inside a ship’s hull. 

Note that, this is the first fuel cell system (FCS), designed as inherently gas safe. This means that the surrounding machinery space serves as gas safe under all conditions. This design significantly reduces the number of requirements for the safety and ventilation support systems. Thereby enabling a more efficient integration onboard the ship. 

The building block of the FCS is a proton exchange membrane fuel cell module, supplied by Toyota. 

Different takes

“Hydrogen fuel cells in combination with batteries is a clear path towards powering a clean future for shipping. Scalable technology combined with safety and easy integration will help accelerate the transition and make it available to more vessel types,”  

Geir Bjørkeli, CEO of Corvus Energy

“This project is unique since we’re combining well-known inherently gas safety design principles from LNG ships with fuel cell technology from Toyota… As ship designers, we are eager to continue our journey providing zero-emission shipping solutions and we consider inherently safe fuel cell products essential in order to obtain compact and cost-efficient hydrogen solutions.”

Torbjørn Bringedal, CEO at LMG Marin and project partner in H2NOR

Project partners and scope 

The solution, developed by the H2NOR project which is a consortium, coordinated by Corvus together with partners; Toyota, Equinor, shipowners Norled and Wilhelmsen, ship design company LMG Marin, the NCE Maritime CleanTech cluster, and R&D institution the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN). 

The project aims to develop and produce modularized and cost-effective PEM fuel cell systems for the international marine market. The project has received EUR 5.9 million in funding. Particularly, coming from state agency Innovation Norway and The Research Council of Norway, bolstering Corvus’ position in clean technology. 

Commercial delivery in 2024. H2NOR is scheduled to showcase its first marine fuel cell system onboard sailings pilots in 2023. Note that, this will take place alongside marine type approval of the product. 

The product will be commercially available from 2024. Thus, resulting in the expansion of the Corvus factories that will manufacture marine battery and fuel cell systems for all types of commercial marine vessels.

Source: Corvus

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