Ballard, GEV join forces on developing fuel-cell powered ship

Ballard Power Systems has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Global Energy Ventures, an Australia-based provider of integrated compressed shipping solutions for the transportation of energy, for the development of a new fuel cell-powered ship, called C-H2 Ship, designed to transport compressed green hydrogen.

The power required for a small-scale demonstration of the C-H2 Ship is expected to be under 10 megawatts (MW).

At full scale, the C-H2 Ship will have a propulsion power requirement of approximately 26MW, and a containment system for storage of 2,000 tons of compressed green hydrogen.

Under the MoU, GEV will be responsible for design approvals, development, financing, and operation of the C-H2 Ship, along with the integration of the required power system.

Ballard will be responsible for the design of the fuel cell system for the C-H2 Ship, based on its FCwave technology, and will assist GEV with the integration of the fuel cell system into the vessel’s design.

Ballard’s FCwave system will obtain its hydrogen fuel from the compressed green hydrogen stored onboard and transported by the vessel.   

“This MOU is a significant step in our development of the Company’s C-H2 Ship, with hydrogen fuel cells now at the forefront of zero-emission technologies for shipping,” Martin Carolan, Executive Director of Global Energy Ventures said.

“We look forward to working with Ballard on the development of the C-H2 Ship’s fuel cell system and power requirements in line with our development program for a compressed shipping solution for hydrogen marine transport at scale.”

“Hydrogen and fuel cell technology provide a compelling path for the decarbonization of the maritime sector, one of the key Medium- and Heavy-Duty Motive applications for which our products offer a particularly strong value proposition,” Rob Campbell, Ballard Chief Commercial Officer added.

“Working with Global Energy Ventures will allow us to advance megawatt-scale hydrogen fuel cell and storage integration on board a large marine vessel.”