Yanmar wraps up land-based test on hydrogen engine for coastal ships

October 31, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

Yanmar Power Technology, a group company of Japan’s Yanmar Holdings Co., has completed a land-based demonstration test of a pilot-ignition hydrogen 4-stroke high-speed engine for power generation in coastal vessels.

As disclosed, the trial is a part of the Zero-Emission Ship Project, which is led by the Nippon Foundation. The project focuses on the development of hydrogen-powered, zero-emission ships, and supports related technology development.

Specifically, during the trial, the tested pilot-ignition hydrogen engine operated by using a small amount of diesel oil as the ignition source (pilot fuel) to burn a premixture of hydrogen and air. With this operation, the engine achieved “the world’s highest hydrogen fuel ratio” and an output of approximately 500 kW, according to Yanmar.

In addition to the diesel pilot-ignition hydrogen engine, Yanmar is developing a similar “pilot-ignition” engine that will achieve zero emissions by co-firing a small amount of biofuel for ignition with hydrogen, and a “spark-ignition” engine that will burn hydrogen. The main goal is to advance the vessel design until the hydrogen infrastructure becomes widely available.

Land-based demonstration tests for the pilot-ignition 6-cylinder hydrogen engine are set to start in 2024, with operations planned for 2026, the company revealed.

Simultaneously, Yanmar is conducting tests for the spark-ignition engine, aiming to support the adoption of hydrogen engine-compatible electric propulsion vessels.

This initiative aligns with Yanmar’s commitment to achieving zero-emission coastal vessels powered by hydrogen energy by 2030.

To remind, the Japanese firm started the development of a hydrogen-fueled 4-stroke high-speed engine for coastal vessels at the beginning of this year.

In addition to hydrogen engine development, the Zero-Emission Ship Project includes work on a hydrogen engine-compatible hybrid electric propulsion vessel, combining hydrogen engine generators with batteries.

The vessel design incorporates a container unit-type hydrogen power generation system on its upper deck.

Uyeno Transtech, a shipping company under the Uyeno Group, is responsible for the vessel’s development and construction.