Freudenberg gets methanol-powered fuel cell type approval for ships

Germany’s Freudenberg e-Power Systems has achieved a significant milestone in the development of methanol-powered fuel cell systems for ships by receiving a type approval certificate from the international classification society RINA.

Freudenberg e-Power Systems’ approach to using methanol for marine applications combines highly efficient fuel reforming technology with a long-life PEM fuel cell in a modular, scalable system unit. The system generates hydrogen via steam reforming, which then reacts with oxygen from the air in the fuel cell to produce the electrical energy needed for both propulsion and the ship’s electrical system.

The heat required for the reformer can be obtained directly from the waste heat of the fuel cells. Fuel cell stack, reformer and control electronics as well as all components for media supply are located in a prefabricated, modular unit, Freudenberg explained.

The safety concept of this innovative system architecture and its conformity with maritime standards and regulations was confirmed by the official handover of the relevant RINA certificate at the leading maritime trade fair SMM in Hamburg.

Freudenberg’s safety concept was already tested for maritime conformity in an early phase of the Pa-X-ell 2 research project. For this purpose, it received approval in principle from the class society DNV. In addition to the focus on the safety concept, the topics of modularisation and standardization were considered in order to take account of the aspects of large-scale industrialisation from the very beginning. In the future, system units with a respective nominal output of 500 kW are to be combined into total capacities in the double-digit megawatt range. Aside from Freudenberg, the renowned project consortium focusing on passenger shipping includes Carnival Maritime (AIDA Cruises), Meyer Werft, Lürssen Werft, besecke, DLR, EPEA, and DNV.