Ballard wins 6.4 MW marine fuel cell order for Samskip ships

Ballard Power Systems has received an order for 32 of its FCwave fuel cell engines from Hamburg-based eCap Marine to power two Samskip vessels. The first units will be delivered before the end of the year.

The 6.4 MW order will enable zero-emission operations between Norway and the Netherlands. It covers 32 of Ballard’s FCwave-200 kW engines. They will be deployed to power two of Samskip’s new container ships. Each of two 135-metre vessels will be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell with an output of 3.2 MW – diesel generators are also on board as a backup. The FCwave engines will be incorporated into green marine propulsion systems by eCap Marine, a Hamburg-based engineering company. Delivery of the engines is planned for 2025 and 2026.

Ballard continues to position its FCwave engines as viable propulsion systems for ships, ferries, and other large vessels, supporting the wider adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in marine operations seeking to comply with tightening global emissions regulations. The company states that the FCwave module is the world’s first DNV type-approved fuel cell module for marine applications, ensuring compliance with international maritime safety and design standards.

The order is supported by ENOVA, Norway’s government agency for energy and climate initiatives, which funds projects driving the transition to low-emission solutions in the maritime sector.

According to Marty Neese, President & CEO of Ballard Power Systems, this is “one of the largest marine fuel cell engine orders in history.” The CEO added that “deploying our fuel cell engines on these two Samskip vessels provides a critical validation point for the use of PEM fuel cell propulsion for maritime applications.”

“Our continued collaboration with Ballard is central to our mission to decarbonise marine transport. This latest order exemplifies our shared commitment to operational excellence and environmental stewardship,” added Lars Ravens, Managing Director of eCap Marine. “Together, we are delivering a clean propulsion solution that meets the rigorous demands of long-haul marine operations.”

As reported about two years ago, Samskip also signed a deal with ABB for the delivery of “a comprehensive power distribution system” for the two hydrogen-powered container ships.

Samskip aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. The logistics company expects to save about 25,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year with each fuel cell ship – if they are fuelled with hydrogen from renewable energies and operated with clean shore power in the port.

ballard.com