TECO 2030 has received over €2.3m (US$2.5m) to begin its second EU Horizon project.
The project focuses on a shift toward the safe and sustainable use of climate-neutral fuels in maritime transportation, specifically through a full-scale demonstration of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered system suitable for maritime applications. This ship has been tailored for operation in the delicate marine ecosystem of the Adriatic Sea. The project is intended to further environmental preservation and zero-emission waterborne transportation.
Key activities in the project include the design and construction of the ship, the development of comprehensive hydrogen distribution, storage and bunkering solutions, and rigorous testing through sea trials to ensure compliance with certification standards. The project also places a strong emphasis on environmental impact, with thorough emissions assessment, environmental performance studies, and risk and safety evaluations.
According to TECO 2030, digital technologies will play a crucial role in the development of digital twins for monitoring, control, simulation and predictive maintenance solutions, complemented by augmented reality systems. These technologies will reportedly be tested and optimized for use by shipowners, operators, shipyards and engineering firms.
This initiative involves an international consortium of entities across the innovation spectrum, dedicated to developing, validating and showcasing a zero-emission passenger ship fueled by hydrogen. The consortium partners are Lürssen Design Center Kvarner, TECO 2030, with affiliates Gitone Kvarner, Maritime Center of Excellence, Jadrolinija, University of Rijeka – Maritime Faculty, DNV Greece, HyCentA Research, Tecnoambiente, Scan Projekt, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Zenlab and the Croatian Hydrogen Association.
Tore Enger, group CEO of TECO 2030, said, “This project further enables our efforts to showcase how fuel cells and hydrogen can be a large contributor to decarbonizing and eliminating harmful emissions of waterborne transport around the world.”
Fredrik Aarskog, director of business development at TECO 2030, commented, “Achieving a perfect record in our EU project proposals is truly remarkable. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated partners and our in-house team for their exceptional proposal writing efforts.”
To find out more about the first €13.5m (US$15m) EU Horizon project to create a hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger ferry, click here.