DNV Says Fuel Cell Technology Proves Successful

Viking Lady was designed by fellow FellowSHIP project member Wärtsilä

Classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) said Tuesday it has successfully installed, and demonstrated the smooth operation of a 330 kW fuel cell on board the offshore supply vessel Viking Lady, the first time fuel cell technology of that magnitude has been installed in a merchant vessel.

"DNV has paved the way for safe and smooth introduction of fuel cells for ships," said DNVs expert on the field, Researcher Eirik Ovrum.

According to the press release, the use of fuel cells on ships can benefit human health and the environment by avoiding local consequences of air pollution, adding that it can completely eliminate CO2 emission if hydrogen from renewables becomes available.

The testing was part of the joint industry project FellowSHIP launched in 2003, which DNV said was developed in response to rising concerns about the environmental impact of harmful emissions to the air, including NOx, SOx, and CO2.

"We recognise that it will take time before fuel cells can become a realistic on-board alternative, mostly restricted by costs, but the FellowSHIP project has taken some important first steps towards a future for fuel cells on ships," commented Ovrum.

The achievements of the project were said to include significantly reduced CO2 emissions, improved energy efficiency, and zero emissions of harmful substances compared to conventional engine technology.

Although fuel cell technology is not new, DNV concluded that it has now become relevant to discuss the potential for technology in shipping.

In 2009 DNV said the project had raised expectations that fuel cell technology was close to a commercial application and had resulted in a regulatory review to establish frameworks for moving the technology forward.