Photo: Ponant
Wind power, electricity, and green hydrogen are combined into one of the most innovative maritime projects aiming to cut emissions and promote cleaner alternatives for transportation. More than that, two highly innovative projects will be developed side by side in France, and by 2030, we might witness a mind-blowing result.
The feasibility of futuristic vessels running on hydrogen is closely linked to a steady, affordable supply. A Nantes-based startup has developed a unique solution that isn't limited to maritime applications but could also transform the way that islands and coastal communities get their power supply.
What Farwind Energy has created is an energy ship – a vessel fitted with rotor sails, which generates electricity at sea through its water turbines and converts it into hydrogen through electrolysis. It can then either deliver this hydrogen to island territories to be used as fuel or use it to refuel ships at sea.
It's a complex concept with multiple ramifications and potential benefits. When it comes to maritime transportation, the main advantage of this unusual solution is that it can supply green hydrogen near a ship's area of operation. This could be crucial for instances where there are no available means of producing and supplying this type of green fuel. It's a clean solution that harnesses the power of offshore wind energy and seawater to make renewable hydrogen readily available for zero-emission ships.
As it turns out, the Farwind Energy concept is a perfect complement to the Swap2Zero, a groundbreaking cruise concept developed by the French luxury cruise operator Ponant. This totally unique vessel will combine no less than six green technologies.
An efficient hull design will be combined with a state-of-the-art sailing system harnessing the purest source of energy available. Secondly, it will use photovoltaic panels totaling more than 1,000 square meters (10,760 square feet) to capture solar power. Two separate systems onboard will use fuel cell technology – one for the ship's propulsion, based on liquid hydrogen, and the other one for the hotel load (all the electrical systems onboard) using high-temperature fuel cells.
The heat and water resulting from each of these two processes will be used further in different ways. Lastly, the Swap2Zero vessel will also feature a top-level carbon-capture system connected to high-temperature fuel cells.
The 181-meter (just under 600 feet) luxury cruise ship with a total of 100 staterooms promises one-month autonomy thanks to the combined effect of all these technologies while also operating with zero emissions, including CO2, N2O, and methane. This will also act as a demonstrator for technologies that can be adapted to various types of ships.
Ponant has joined forces with Farwind Energy to bring these two game-changing concepts together. They'll work together to commission both the Swap2Zero luxury cruise ship and the first energy ship simultaneously by the end of this decade.
What Farwind Energy has created is an energy ship – a vessel fitted with rotor sails, which generates electricity at sea through its water turbines and converts it into hydrogen through electrolysis. It can then either deliver this hydrogen to island territories to be used as fuel or use it to refuel ships at sea.
It's a complex concept with multiple ramifications and potential benefits. When it comes to maritime transportation, the main advantage of this unusual solution is that it can supply green hydrogen near a ship's area of operation. This could be crucial for instances where there are no available means of producing and supplying this type of green fuel. It's a clean solution that harnesses the power of offshore wind energy and seawater to make renewable hydrogen readily available for zero-emission ships.
As it turns out, the Farwind Energy concept is a perfect complement to the Swap2Zero, a groundbreaking cruise concept developed by the French luxury cruise operator Ponant. This totally unique vessel will combine no less than six green technologies.
An efficient hull design will be combined with a state-of-the-art sailing system harnessing the purest source of energy available. Secondly, it will use photovoltaic panels totaling more than 1,000 square meters (10,760 square feet) to capture solar power. Two separate systems onboard will use fuel cell technology – one for the ship's propulsion, based on liquid hydrogen, and the other one for the hotel load (all the electrical systems onboard) using high-temperature fuel cells.
The heat and water resulting from each of these two processes will be used further in different ways. Lastly, the Swap2Zero vessel will also feature a top-level carbon-capture system connected to high-temperature fuel cells.
The 181-meter (just under 600 feet) luxury cruise ship with a total of 100 staterooms promises one-month autonomy thanks to the combined effect of all these technologies while also operating with zero emissions, including CO2, N2O, and methane. This will also act as a demonstrator for technologies that can be adapted to various types of ships.
Ponant has joined forces with Farwind Energy to bring these two game-changing concepts together. They'll work together to commission both the Swap2Zero luxury cruise ship and the first energy ship simultaneously by the end of this decade.
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