Zepp.Solutions to Provide Fuel Cells for Innovative River Cruise Ship Hydrogen Project

The Dutch fuel cell developer and integrator, zepp.solutions, has been tapped to supply fuel cell systems for the NERA-H2 project. This initiative aims to retrofit existing river cruise ships with hydrogen fuel cell-based propulsion systems in a move toward sustainability.

The NERA-H2 project is in response to tightening emission regulations faced by river cruise operators in cities like Amsterdam, Basel, and Vienna. The initiators claim that the river cruise sector is confronting significant sustainability challenges, as there are currently over 420 vessels operating in Europe that will need to adapt to these new regulations. The solution involves retrofitting these ships with hydrogen propulsion, thereby aiding the energy transition in inland waterways.

Zepp.solutions will provide its X150 fuel cell modules, capable of exceeding 1 megawatt of power output, which have already been successfully used in heavy-duty applications, including hydrogen-powered trucks. Financing for this project will primarily come from the Dutch Maritime Master Plan, which aims to deploy at least 40 zero-emission ships by 2030. Insights gained from the NERA-H2 project are expected to facilitate broader industry adoption of hydrogen propulsion and contribute to the zero-emission maritime goal.

The NERA Company B.V. leads this collaborative project, partnering with various entities, including research institutions like MARIN and TNO for technological validation and development. The Arnhem and Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences is involved in energy storage and digitalization research. The participation of shipowners and industry partners will ensure that the new technology is viable for real-world maritime operations.

Jonas Brendelberger, co-founder of zepp.solutions, expressed pride in contributing their fuel cell expertise to this project, emphasizing the importance of not only building new vessels but also upgrading existing fleets. He noted that NERA-H2 represents a well-structured approach and looks forward to the forthcoming collaboration, underscoring the ambitious nature of the maritime sector’s decarbonization efforts.

For more details, visit the official pages on fuel cell ships and hydrogen.

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