ABB moves step closer to megawatt-scale fuel cells for ships
Swiss-Swedish electronic manufacturing giant ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with French hydrogen technologies specialist Hydrogène de France to jointly manufacture megawatt-scale hydrogen fuel cell systems for ocean-going vessels.
As industry and nations around the globe look for ways to transition to a more sustainable means of energy and power, the global shipping industry – accounting for 2.5% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions – is under increasing pressure to similarly transition to more sustainable power sources.
The UN’s International Maritime Organization, responsible for regulating global shipping, has set a global target to cut annual emissions by at least 50% by 2050 based on 2008 levels.On May 21st ABB announced some smaller stuff:
As such, shipping and technology companies are looking for ways to cut emissions for ocean-going vessels – a bigger task than simply sticking a battery into your hatchback.
Hydrogen – specifically green hydrogen, which is hydrogen made using renewable energy to power the hydrolysis process – is one of the most favoured options for transitioning the shipping sector to a more sustainable power sources, with hydrogen fuel cells converting its chemical energy into electricity through an electrochemical reaction.
Currently, hydrogen fuel cells are already capable of powering ships sailing short distances, as well as supporting the auxiliary energy requirements of larger ocean-going vessels....MORE
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