Hydrogen-electric OSV deployed on Wadden Sea
German clean power solutions provider eCap Marine has developed and installed a containerised hydrogen-electric power system on board the OSV Coastal Liberty
(Source: eCap Marine)
Hamburg-based eCap Marine has completed a project for Offshore Service GmbH to provide an emissions-free power plant for the offshore support vessel, Coastal Liberty. The vessel now uses green hydrogen and is working in the Wadden Sea.
Following certification by DNV in February, the Coastal Liberty is now operating on a hybrid hydrogen-electric setup with hydrogen as its main source of energy, backed up by batteries. Over the last two years, eCap Marine has developed a containerised system comprising two Ballard FCwave (2 x 200kW) fuel cells, a maritime battery system from Lehmann Marine, a fire-extinguishing system, tank units, a custom power management system, and all necessary cooling and safety equipment.
The green hydrogen for the fuel cells is being produced locally, using offshore wind power on a nearby electrolyser hydrogen plant. The electrolyser is designed to meet varying power demands and the three swappable high-pressure tank systems can be transported between the electrolyser and the vessel by truck. Switching the hydrogen tanks is easy and safe, the company said, and the power arrangement has the added benefits of less vibration on board and an immediate response to varying power demands.
Managing director of eCap Marine, Lars Ravens, described the system as a unique installation on board a seagoing ship. It can be scaled up to megawatt-sized units, he said, for larger commercial ships on longer voyages as well as smaller inland vessels.
