Energy Observer to unveil hydrogen-powered demo ship this week
French renewable shipping project Energy Observer is developing an autonomous laboratory vessel that can produce the hydrogen it consumes from surplus renewable energy.
PHOTO: Concept design of the Energy Observer 2. Kadeg Boucher and JB Epron Design
The company says hydrogen ship technology and supply chain infrastructure is maturing, with liquid hydrogen storage tanks, liquifiers around the world and fuel cells scaling up.
Its hydrogen-fuelled cargo ship Energy Observer 2 now looks to take on challenges around handling hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures and storing it large tanks onboard ships.
The Energy Observer 2 is a 5,000 dwt multi-purpose cargo ship with a range of 4,000 nautical miles. It can sail intercontinental and coastal routes, the company says.
"With this demonstrator ship, we want to go all the way in decarbonizing medium-sized industrial ships, using hydrogen directly as a fuel," says Energy Observer president and founder Victorien Erussard.
To develop next-generation hydrogen-fuelled cargo ships, Energy Observer has partnered with CMA CGM and ohter industry players.
In addition to ongoing commitments to biofuels and methanol, we also aim to establish ourselves in hydrogen through industrial partners, says CMA CGM.
