A joint development agreement between Alma Clean Power Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies and Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime for engineering a fully integrated LOHC-SOFC (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) power system was announced.
This system is for the “HyNjord” project which is supported by Enova and focuses on a 100-kilowatt prototype powertrain that will be tested on board the offshore supply vessel Edda Ferd which Østensjø Rederi operates.
The agreements also permit future megawatt-scale hydrogen-powered ships. In order to achieve high efficiency the innovation combines the release of hydrogen from the LOHC with direct conversion into power by a nearby SOFC unit.
The key to this is utilizing the surplus heat produced by the SOFC device to satisfy the LOHC release unit’s heat requirement.
In addition the decarbonization of the maritime industry is facilitated by the LOHC solution from Hydrogenious which offers a secure and straightforward approach to managing hydrogen as a fuel.
“With this partnership we leverage synergies between Alma’s SOFC solution and our LOHC technology and take the next milestone in pioneering the use of hydrogen as a safe and efficient zero-emission fuel to ships” says Dr. Daniel Teichmann CEO and founder of Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies.
Øystein Skår General Manager at Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime adds: “Our goal is to develop a zero-emission power solution for shipping and with this agreement we join forces to combine the LOHC technology with SOFC technology to develop an efficient way to produce power on board ships without emissions.”
Head of On-board Technology at Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Dr. Holger Buech explains: “We’re very excited about this partnership since it will allow us to develop and realize an integrated LOHC-SOFC system which combines safe release of hydrogen from an easy-to-handle energy carrier with a fuel cell of high electrical efficiency.”
“More than that we will lift a special technological treasure by integrating the systems regarding their heat balances thereby creating a thermal yin and yang of hydrogen technology” Buech adds.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies is an industry leader in liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) products in hydrogen storage and transportation.
Instead of employing gaseous or liquified hydrogen hydrogen is chemically attached to the thermal oil carrier substance benzyl toluene.
Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime uses this particular LOHC technology to build and sell a shipshape LOHC-fuel cell powertrain with significant advantages in handling and safety for shipping. Direct fuel cell grade hydrogen release from the LOHC occurs on board.
Tricia Tan
