Ballard Power Systems has received a major order for 6.4 megawatts (MW) of fuel cell power from eCap Marine. The Hamburg-based company will integrate a total of 32 FCwave modules, each with an output of 200 kilowatts (kW), into two new container ships operated by the logistics company Samskip. The ships are to be powered by green hydrogen and will be deployed on the route between Norway and the Netherlands.
Delivery of the fuel cell modules is scheduled for the period from 2025 to 2026. The two ships are currently being built at Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, India. According to Samskip, they are expected to save around 25,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The collaboration between Ballard and eCap Marine has existed since 2021. Previously, eCap Marine had already retrofitted the vessel “Coastal Liberty” with Ballard technology. The partnership is now being continued with one of the largest orders to date for maritime fuel cell technology.
“We are proud to expand our partnership with eCap Marine and Samskip with one of the largest fuel cell orders in the maritime sector,” said Marty Neese, CEO of Ballard. “The deployment of our FCwave modules on these two Samskip vessels is an important validation point for the use of PEM fuel cells in shipping.”
According to the company, Ballard’s FCwave modules are the world’s first type-approved fuel cells for maritime use. They are certified by the classification societies DNV, Lloyd’s Register and ABS. The modules are based on eight product generations and are designed for use under demanding climatic conditions. They are said to offer low life cycle costs and high scalability.
Lars Ravens, Managing Director of eCap Marine, emphasized: “Our continued collaboration with Ballard is central to our mission to decarbonize maritime transport. Together, we are delivering a clean propulsion solution that meets the demands of long-distance sea transport.”
The project is supported by ENOVA, the Norwegian funding program for zero-emission transport solutions. According to Samskip, the company aims to promote sustainable technologies in shipping and highlights the importance of public-private partnerships for the transformation of the sector.
