Shipping company Odjfell, fuel cell maker Alma Clean Power (Alma) and classification society DNV will trial solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) on a chemical tanker by 2024.
As part of the pilot tests, the partners plan to install an 80-kilowatt (KW) SOFC unit powered by natural gas on one of Odfjell’s chemical tankers.
“Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are fuel flexible, and can convert fuels like ammonia, LNG, methanol and hydrogen to electricity with a potentially higher energy efficiency than internal combustion engines,” Odjfell explains.
Power source with zero-emission potential
High energy efficiency of SOFCs makes them efficient power sources for using alternative fuels onboard large ships for long distances.
In addition, fuel cells generate power through an electrochemical reaction instead of combustion. Therefore, a ship powered by SOFCs can run on alternative fuels, such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, without needing pilot fuel for ignition – as internal combustion engines (ICE) do.
This can significantly reduce the vessel’s carbon footprint compared to ICEs when using fuels with zero-emission potential.
Meanwhile, Alma also received DNV’s approval for its ammonia fuelled SOFC system concept in January this year. It is expected to test the ammonia-fuelled SOFC system on Eidesvik-owned-and-operated offshore vessel Viking Energy later this year.
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Source: Odfjell
