Swedish fuel cell specialist and Siemens ink MOU on marine drives

AUGUST 20, 2018 — Gothenburg headquartered PowerCell Sweden AB has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s Siemens AG on joint development of fuel cell based drive and power generating systems for marine applications.

The aim is to integrate PowerCell’s fuel cell systems in Siemens’ existing systems for drive and power generation for the marine segment.

PowerCell and Siemens will jointly develop a fuel cell-based system that can be integrated into ships such as ferries, yachts and cruise ships.

In June a power generating system based on PowerCell’s fuel cell stacks and developed by PowerCell’s Norwegian joint venture Hyon, got the first ever approval in principle for a fuel cell-based power generating system for marine vessels.

“In large segments of the marine industry a rapid transition has already started, with increased electrification and decreased use of fossil fuels as strong trends”, Per Wassén, CEO of PowerCell said. “If commercial shipping is to meet the IMO target, and seriously take on the challenge that the climate change poses, large sections of it has to convert to much more sustainable solutions. Fuel cells are a very promising alternative and Siemens and PowerCell see a great potential for the cooperation we are now entering into.”