The IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sintef, the University of Iceland, Stena Rederi, and Powercell Sweden have initiated a new study on how hydrogen and fuel cells compare to other alternative fuels for sea shipping.

The HOPE - Hydrogen Fuel Cells Solutions in Shipping in Relation to Other Low Carbon Options project will develop and evaluate a concept design of a short sea shipping vessel which uses hydrogen and fuel cells for propulsion.

The initiative will also scrutinise the barriers and driving forces for constructing such a ship in the Nordic region as well as how operating such a vessel would impact greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

"There is a number of different possibilities such as electrification, wind, bio- and electrofuels. The shipping industry is very much interested in new solutions, and hydrogen and fuel cells are a very hot topic now," Julia Hansson, Researcher and Consultant, the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, commented.

Per Wimby, Project Leader at Stena Rederi, added, "For us it is crucially important that different alternative fuels are thoroughly studied in order to make sure they are sustainable, cost-effective, and can be really used in practice. Hydrogen can be a very interesting option for our ships that sail between Nordic countries."

The HOPE project is financed through a cooperation programme set up by the Norwegian Nordic Energy Research, the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program, Business Finland, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Research Council of Norway, the Icelandic Centre for Research, as well as through in-kind contributions from partaking companies.

Two other projects testing the application of hydrogen and ammonia in sea shipping are also supported via the programme.

Photo: The IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute