HyAxiom to test SOFC technology on marine vessel with Shell
HyAxiom Inc., a leading global fuel cell and hydrogen solutions provider based in East Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A,, has signed an agreement with Shell Plc and other parties to power a deep-sea liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier with a HyAxiom-developed solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) to test the technology’s ability to reduce carbon emissions from maritime transport.
A Doosan company, HyAxiom Inc. was established in 2014 as a result of Doosan Group’s acquisition of the fuel cell business of UTC Power. Doosan Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation based in Seoul, South Korea.
Under the agreement, Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (KSOE), DNV and Doosan Fuel Cell Co., Ltd (DFCC), agreed to launch a vessel powered by a HyAxiom-developed solid oxide fuel cell in 2025.
The consortium agreement was signed during a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea. Representatives from each company included HyAxiom CEO Jeff Hyungrak Chung; DFCC COO Hooseok Che; Shell’s SVP and Global Head of Shipping and Maritime, Karrie Trauth; DNV Regional Manager Korea & Japan Vidar Dolonen; and KSOE Vice Chairman Sam-Hyun Ka.
The agreement underscores fuel cell technology’s potential in decarbonising the hard-to-abate marine transport industry.
“Fuel cells are a critical technology to cut carbon emissions and help us combat climate change at scale,” said Chung. “HyAxiom is proud to partner with Shell to demonstrate the viability of solid oxide fuel cells as a low to zero carbon way to power the shipping industry.”
“This consortium and the cutting-edge technology we’re pioneering could help deliver less carbon-intensive operations in the near term while unlocking a pathway to net-zero through the blending of conventional and alternative fuels until zero-carbon options are available at scale. We’re excited to be collaborating with some of the leading names in shipping who share a vision of a zero-emission industry and are working hard to progress shipping decarbonisation,” said Trauth, SVP, Shipping & Maritime, Shell.
Following completion of the feasibility studies, HyAxiom will design and develop the SOFC Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) incorporating the 2 x 300 kilowatts (kW) sub-systems for long-range maritime demonstration. DFCC will manufacture and carry out factory tests and deliver the product. Shell will charter the demonstration vessel. KSOE will assist with system integration and technological deployment. DNV will provide technical and safety expertise.
Once launched, the vessel will operate for one year, during which time the parties will collect valuable data on how to further integrate SOFC technology into current vessels and inform how future vessels can be powered by SOFC technology at scale.
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