Norwegian clean tech provider TECO 2030 and energy storage developer Skeleton Technologies have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the use of renewable hydrogen in the maritime sector .
As a first step, Skeleton’s SuperBattery shall be integrated with TECO 2030’s fuel cell modules in the HyEkoTank project, the largest marine fuel cell retrofit projects in the world, led by TECO 2030, Shell, and other consortium partners from three European countries (Norway, Sweden, and Netherlands).
Skeleton Technologies and TECO 2030 will then aim to develop joint solutions combining TECO 2030’s hydrogen fuel cells and Skeleton’s SuperBattery to enable the maritime industry’s transition to net-zero. The project will be based on Skeleton’s work in the HydroCap project funded by the Estonian government.
The HyEkoTank project started on February 1st, 2023, in Lysaker, Norway, and is planned to last for 3 years, with the goal of eliminating carbon emissions during voyage and in port operations.
The Norwegian clean tech provider will retrofit six 400 kW Fuel Cell Modules in a container solution and demonstrate power supply for both propulsion and auxiliary loads using hydrogen with zero emissions as fuel.
The partners have recently discussed the procedures that the consortium will follow during the project’s implementation period as well as the work to be carried out in the upcoming period.
“There are many synergies between our companies, as Skeleton is focused on reducing CO2 emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sectors and the maritime industry is surely one of them. We are confident our SuperBattery product can contribute to its transition towards net-zero by being a key enabling and complementary technology for fuel cell powered ships,” stated Taavi Madiberk , CEO and co-founder of Skeleton Technologies.
“Our SuperBattery shall first be integrated with TECO 2030’s fuel cell modules in the HyEkoTank project, whose consortium includes another key partner for Skeleton – Shell – with whom we collaborate on the electrification of mining sector. “
Skeleton’s SuperBattery modules are expected to increase fuel cells’ performance and lifetime by reducing the requirement for peak power from the fuel cell.
“On a fuel cell powered ship all energy is generated by the fuel cell and it is optimal to supply that energy directly to the consumer when possible. Therefore, large battery energy storage capacity is typically not needed on a ship. However, a fuel cell system needs a few seconds to react to load changes so a high-power battery for peak-shaving is the perfect match,” explained Fredrik Aarskog , Director of Business Development in TECO 2030.
“Combining the compact and dynamic FCM400 marine fuel cell from TECO 2030 with the high-power SuperBattery from Skeleton significantly reduces the installation space needed in the HyEkoTank project. In addition, this solution will be cheaper, safer and more sustainable than a conventional lithium-ion battery solution.”
The HyEkoTank is a project funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme to develop optimised hydrogen fuel cell solutions for maritime applications and accelerate the achievement of climate neutrality of both sea-going and inland waterway waterborne transport.