Zero-emissions fuel cell installed on vessel - Baird Maritime

Posted - June 25, 2010 Baird Maritime

Energy technology provider, Wärtsilä, has installed a WFC20 fuel cell unit that produces close to zero emissions on a ship in what is the first of its kind in the world. The unit, installed on the ‘Undine’, a car carrier owned by Swedish Wallenius Lines, will provide auxiliary power to the vessel during its test period.
The 'Undine', now fitted with Wärtsilä's WFC20 fuel cell unit, sails through Sydney Harbor.

The fuel cell unit, which has a nominal output of 20kW, is based on planar solid oxide fuel cell technology (SOFC) and fueled with methanol. Methanol is particularly suited for fueling the WFC20 since it can be easily reformed to a composition suitable for the unit. Methanol can be produced from natural gas, or from renewable raw materials.

Installation of the WFC20 fuel cell unit on-board the ‘Undine’ is the result of a joint project including Wärtsilä, Wallenius Marine, Lloyd’s Register, Det Norske Veritas and the University of Genoa. The project has been funded with 1 million Euros (US$1.23 million) from the European Union.

The ‘Undine’, with the Wärtsilä FC20 unit installed, sailed from the German port of Bremerhaven in May. From there it has headed for the USA, via Sweden and the UK.

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