First fuel cell on yacht

First fuel cell on a yacht

Lürssen’s and Freudenberg’s concept is a fuel cell driven by hydrogen that is continuously reformed from methanol.

LÜRSSEN IS BUILDING ITS FIRST YACHT WITH FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY FOR A PIONEERING AND TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN CLIENT. THE FUEL CELL FLANKS THE CONVENTIONAL GENERATORS AND IS A BIG STEP TO AN EMISSION-FREE LÜRSSEN YACHT.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF LÜRSSEN.

This innovatve technology makes it possible to anchor emission-free for ffeen days or cruise 1,000nm at slow speed. Peter Lürssen, CEO of superyacht builder Lürssen and creator of extraordinary superyachts states, “My grandfather built the world’s frst motorboat in 1886. It’s my dream to build the frst yacht without a combuston engine.”

In the meantme, Lürssen has set up an Innovaton Laboratory to simulate and test the integraton and operaton of a Marine Hybrid Fuel Cell System on board a yacht powered by methanol. Since 2005, Lürssen has been involved in research projects aimed at using fuel cells on ships in order to advance sustainable shipbuilding. “We don’t just want to use the latest technology on our yacht – we want to advance the status quo. And in order to change things, you have to be actve. That is why we have teamed up with several top partners”, says Mr Lürssen.

Innovation Laboratory

Since 2009, Lürssen has been partner in natonal research project Pa-X-ell. Besides Lürssen, partners Besecke, Carnival Maritme, DLR, DNV, EPEA, Freudenberg, and Meyer Werf are involved in the project. The aim is the development and testng of a hybrid energy system with a new generaton of PEM fuel cells for yachts and seagoing passenger vessels. Dr Justus Reinke, Managing Director of Lürssen, confrms, “The Innovaton Laboratory will be ready in summer 2021 and under real-life ambient conditons, and with all required auxiliary systems we consider this demonstraton plant to be the fnal preparatons to successfully bring fuels cells on board a yacht. It will defnitely bring us a step closer to a CO2 emission-free Lürssen yacht.”

We don’t just want to use the latest technology on our yacht – we want to advance the status quo.

Long-term partnership

Lürssen has commited to a strategic partnership with Freudenberg, one of the leading experts for maritme fuel cells and a global technology group with around 48,000 employees in 60 countries. Mr Lürssen elaborates, “With Freudenberg, we have a strong partner on our side. We both aim to bring fuel cells on-board ships in the near future and revolutonise the yacht’s energy and propulsion system.” Claus Moehlenkamp, CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, shares, “We are pleased to enter into a long-term partnership with Lürssen, a leading, innovatve shipyard in the yacht sector. Together, we will set standards for a sustainable, emission-free mobility for yachts.” Lürssen’s and Freudenberg’s concept is a fuel cell driven by hydrogen which is contnuously reformed from methanol. The choice of methanol rather than elemental hydrogen was made due to its higher energy density, simplicity of handling, and easy worldwide availability. But most importantly, methanol can be stored in structural tanks in the double botom of a yacht in contrast to pressurised or liquefed hydrogen, which requires valuable space above the tank top and extensive tank structures. Dr Manfred Stefener, Head of the Lead Center Fuel Cell Systems of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, explains, “Based on our vast knowledge

Peter Lürssen talks about yacht propulsion in episode 2 of talk show ‘Lürssen Live!’.

Fuell cell stack.

Lürssen is setting up an Innovation Laboratory to simulate and test the integration and operation of a Marine Hybrid Fuel Cell System on board a yacht.

in Fuel Cell Systems and Hydrogen generaton by reforming methanol in connecton with Freudenberg’s proven industrialisaton expertse, we are commited to realising innovatve power and propulsion solutons for the maritme industry. We are happy to have Lürssen as our partner for bringing the combinaton of the mature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC) with an efcient conversion process of methanol into hydrogen onto the frst yacht worldwide.”

Climate-neutral methanol

Methanol is an important base material for the chemical industry and has been used as clean fuel for decades. When produced from renewable sources like by CO2 capturing from the atmosphere, methanol is completely climate-neutral. Mr Lürssen comments, “Due to the low dynamic capability of fuel cells, the system layout and the combinaton with other energy converters and storages is key for a successful fuel cell power system. The yacht, which is currently under constructon, will be able to stay at anchor for more than ffeen days, with the night-tme power supply in a zero-emission mode. And the yacht can reach more than 1,000nm slow cruising with zero emission.” Thanks to the modular constructon, the methanol fuel cell system can be adjusted to a customised yacht to keep space requirements and costs as low as possible and the total efciency of the system as high as possible. Fuel cells cause almost no noise or vibratons, need only minor maintenance, and are more efcient than diesel engines. But most importantly, emissions like nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, soot, and even CO2 can be avoided when green methanol is used.

i. lurssen.com