BlueDolphin
The objective of the BlueDolphin project is to develop and demonstrate a scalable high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell range-extender platform for smaller electric marine vessels such as yachts, workboats, ferries etc. The platform will be powered by liquid renewable methanol and hereby enable indirect electrification of waterborne transport. The solution eliminates all harmful emissions such as NOx and SOx and reduces CO2 emissions with up to 100% from a well-to-wheel perspective. The proposed solution overcomes critical challenges observed from alternative sustainable solutions (hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric) by offering value propositions such as long travelling range, superior energy density, high efficiency and cost competitive fuel economy, which is on par with today’s diesel engines. The platform is designed to operate in a harsh marine environment and the impacts from vibrations, shocks and salt vapors are investigated and strategies for mitigating these are developed and implemented. Furthermore, concepts for smart use of waste heat from the fuel cell are investigated and analyzed to increase the system efficiency above 80%. Waste heat can be used for cabin heating, cooking and even cooling. The BlueDolphin platform will be demonstrated on- and offshore with the purpose of validating functionality, performance and identify further optimizations required before market entry.
Central project activities include:
- Identifying detailed customer- and end user requirements for a range of different vessel types and use cases to ensure a generic solution with a wide market potential.
- Adapting the high-temperature PEM fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) technology and balance-of-plant components to maritime standards and operating conditions, enabling the complete system to operate in a harsh maritime environment without compromising on lifetime targets.
- Integration of the HT-PEMFC platform into a battery electric workboat. Investigations surrounding efficient use of waste heat generated by the fuel cell is completed to increase the total efficiency above 80%.
- Demonstrating the potential of HT-PEMFC and renewable methanol powering smaller electric vessels as a zero-emissions propulsion technology.
Key figures
Category
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| Blue World Technologies ApS | 6,79 mio. DKK | 4,53 mio. DKK |
| Aalborg Universitet (Fredrik Bajers Vej) | 2,07 mio. DKK | 0,23 mio. DKK |
Contact
Lavavej 14,
9220 Aalborg Ø
Tlf.: +45 29 70 74 88
