Partnership aims to develop hydrogen powered ferry for Oslo-Copenhagen
Written by Nick Blenkey
The ferry has the working name Europa Seaways and is designed for 1,800 passengers and 120 trucks or 380 cars.[Image: Knut E. Hansen]
A group of companies plans to develop a 100% hydrogen fuel cell powered RoPax ferry for DFDS’ Oslo – Frederikshavn – Copenhagen route.
The partnership includes DFDS, ABB, Ballard Power Systems Europe, Hexagon Purus, Lloyd’s Register, Knud E. Hansen, Ørsted and Danish Ship Finance. It has applied for EU support for development of the ferry, which will use a fuel cell system that emits only water and can produce up to 23 MW. Green hydrogen is to be produced by a projected offshore wind energy-powered electrolyzer plant in Greater Copenhagen.
“The largest fuel cell systems today produce only 1-5 MW, and the development of such large-scale fuel cell installations for an electric ferry is a monumental task,” says Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS. “We can only succeed in partnerships with companies that together can muster some of the globe’s finest expertise in design, approval, building, financing and operation of innovative vessels.”
If the project develops as planned, the ferry could be in full operation on the route as early as 2027.
The ferry has the working name Europa Seaways and is designed for 1,800 passengers and 120 trucks or 380 cars.
Vessel and route details
- On board power production PEM Fuel cells
- Power: 23 MW
- Fuel: Compressed hydrogen
- Fuel tank capacity: 44 tonnes
- Passenger capacity: 1,800
- Trailer & Car capacity: 2,300 lane meters
- Route Copenhagen – Frederikshavn – Oslo
- Roundtrip time: 48 hours
- Bunkering interval; 48 hours
- CO2e/year emission avoidance: 64.000 Tons
Categories: Environment, Ferries, News, Shipping
