Maritime success story – Proton Motor supplies Fincantieri with new fuel cell system HyShip 72.
Two Proton Motor stack modules “PM 400-120” are the core of the new “HyShip” system
In mid-December 2021, the technical acceptance and official release of the first “HyShip” product by Fincantieri and the classification society “RINA” took place for delivery to the customer. The core of a singular “HyShip 72” are two integrated Proton Motor stack modules “PM 400-120”. Both “HyShip” systems work redundant to each other. They will be supplemented with a battery system and the hydrogen storage system based on metal hydride to an emission-free electric drive train. “The entire Proton Motor team is very proud of our high-performance product portfolio for emission-free mobility. With high-tech innovations based on hydrogen fuel cells, we are making a decisive contribution to the success of a sustainable and green maritime energy transition and in the general transport sector”, Proton Motor Sales Manager Alexander Adrian comments on the pioneering 142 kW drive component. Hereby an entity has been successfully formed by combining fuel cell technology with a battery and hydrogen storage that produces 100 percent emission-free power on the open sea.
Proton Motor established with maritime references since 2008 as partner for zero-emission navigation
It is planned that in February the Fincantieri order will be finalised. In addition, follow-up orders in the field of green shipping respectively existing ones are currently being produced. This includes, for example, the collaboration in the project “Ma-Hy-Hy” (Marine-Hydrogen-Hybrid), which is being realised together with “Torqeedo GmbH” for the development of a marine high-voltage hybrid drive system with a battery and a hydrogen fuel cell. In 2021, the UK company “ACUA Ocean” was supplied with a fuel cell “Made in Germany” for the world’s first CO2-free unmanned vessel for marine monitoring and protection. At EU level, Proton Motor is also an internationally recognised technology partner in the “e-SHyIPS” project. The goal is to define guidelines on the effective introduction of hydrogen in maritime passenger transport for a clean and sustainable environment. Already in 2008, Proton Motor – a member of the German “Association for Shipbuilding and Marine Technology” – was able to project for “ATG Alster-Touristik GmbH” the “Zemships”-funded (Zero Emission Ships) fuel cell passenger ferry “Alsterwasser” with an alternative drive solution, which was in regular ferry operation until 2014.
With more than 20 year of experience, the internationally active Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH is Germany”s expert for energy solutions with cleantech technologies and a specialist in fuel cells in this field. Located in Puchheim near Munich, Proton Motor, offers complete fuel cell and fuel cell hybrid systems from its own production – from development to production to the implementation of customer-specific solutions. Proton Motor focuses on stationary applications such as back-up power and energy storage solutions, as well as mobile solutions such as back-to-base applications. The solutions can also be applied in the maritime and rail sectors. The product portfolio includes basic fuel cell systems, standard complete systems and customised systems. The official commissioning of the new fuel cell stack machine to start the series production took place in September 2019.