DFDS and Partners to Develop Hydrogen-Powered Ferry

By Dominic Chopping

Danish ferry operator DFDS A/S said Thursday that the company and its partners have applied for EU support to develop a ferry powered by electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell system which only emits water.

DFDS, ABB Ltd, Ballard Power Systems Europe, Hexagon Purus, Lloyd's Register, Knud E. Hansen, Oersted A/S and Danish Ship Finance have all partnered to develop a 100% hydrogen-powered ferry, initially for DFDS's Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route.

A hydrogen fuel cell system that can produce up to 23 megawatts will be needed to propel the ferry, DFDS added.

"The largest fuel cell systems today produce only 1-5 megawatts, and the development of such large-scale fuel cell installations for an electric ferry is a monumental task," DFDS Chief Executive Torben Carlsen said.

"Together, we expect to be able to make these fuel types and technologies commercially viable."

The hydrogen will be produced locally in Greater Copenhagen based on offshore wind, and the project will investigate how to optimally integrate with the local energy system, it said.

If the project develops as projected, DFDS said the ferry could be in full operation as early as 2027.

Write to Dominic Chopping at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 26, 2020 05:39 ET (10:39 GMT)

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