SHOW REVIEW: Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe 2024
The 10th edition of Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe was held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, last week, providing the best opportunity of the year for shipowners and operators to source the latest solutions to speed marine electrification, decarbonization, hybridization and GHG-reduction, with more than 200 exhibitors, including HD Hyundai (HD KSOE), Holland Shipyards, RINA, Samsung Heavy Industries and Wärtsila, all in one place.
Alongside the free-to-attend exhibition, a three-day, nine-track conference showcased the latest vessel case studies and expert advice on powertrain specification and integration, as well as unique insights into battery technology and class rules from over 70 organizations, including CIMAC, DNV, Maritime Battery Forum, RH Marine and the US Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
The winners of the Electric & Hybrid Marine Awards, organised by Electric & Hybrid Marine Technology International, were also announced live during a special ceremony; and an exhibitor presentation area on the show floor and a dedicated VIP lounge exclusively reserved for shipowners and operators were brand new features for 2024.
“The expo is very interesting, with a lot of experts from different parts of the supply chain,” said Hakan Fagerstrom, CEO, FinFerries. “We’re here to look at battery solutions, primarily, but also fuel cells for the future.”
“It’s great to find so many companies who are potential customers and suppliers all together in one place, so it’s a brilliant opportunity to make connections,” said Cesar Valero, mechanical engineer, SeaQurrent, which provides renewable baseload power sourced from tidal energy.
“As an electrical engineer, this expo is made for me,” said Adam SzadKowski, senior engineer, electrical and automation, Damen Engineering Gdansk. “It’s great to be able to meet the suppliers of new electrification technologies all in one place,” he continued. “It’s a very unique experience, with the show at the forefront of the design of the ships, batteries and fuel cells for the future.”
“I’ve been able to see all the state-of-the-art technology in electric and hybrid maritime,” said Eileen Tausch, a senior electrical engineer at Crowley, builder and operator of the first fully electric tugboat (eWolf) in the USA, in service with the Port of San Diego.
Meanwhile on Linked In, Christian Andersson, senior chief engineer at ForSea Ferries, said, “EHM [the expo] is the best place for networking in our prime segment such as maritime batteries and shore charging solutions, including equipment and integration between the different systems. We are excited and filled up with information and new knowledge.”
Exhibitor news
Visitors were able to assess and source some fascinating new technologies across the show floor, from compact fuel cell systems and hydrogen propulsion through to the latest ammonia-to-power technology. (Read all the exhibitor news, here.)
Ricardo chose this year’s expo to showcase its multi-stack hydrogen fuel cell solution. The technology has been developed by Ricardo as part of the Sustainable Hydrogen Powered Shipping (sHYpS) project. Ricardo is the fuel cell system partner in the project, which includes the specification, design, build and test of a ~500kW gross, 375kW net-power fuel cell module (RFC500) and the design of a 40ft (12.2m) containerized multimegawatt powerplant that combines the outputs of several fuel cell modules.
“We have been very encouraged by the significant interest in our high power density, 375kW, marine fuel cell module that we are exhibiting on our booth for the first time, as well as the informed questions about how our modular solution and broader hydrogen fuel cell capability can be applied to their fleets or operations,” said Andrew Ennever, global head of fuel cells, Ricardo.
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ABB was at the show to display its ACS880LC series of liquid-cooled (LC) drives and drive modules with direct liquid cooling. Their compact yet robust design provides an ideal solution for various applications where space savings, silent operation or durability in harsh environments are a must.
Since the liquid cooling takes care of 98% of the heat losses, no additional filtered air cooling is needed, and the modules can be mounted into totally enclosed cabinets or enclosures with a high protection class.
Speaking specifically about the show, Daniel Olsson, global sales, marine industry, system drives, said by the end of Day 1 that ABB had seen a good mix of both new and old customers: “It’s been very busy – we’ve met a lot of existing contacts, who we have had some updated discussions with about what’s going on, but at the same time, we’ve met new people, too. For us, this is a very important show for drives and interacting with the industry.”
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Marine System 225, a compact (1,200 x 900 x 2,000mm) fuel cell system delivering 225kW of clean electric power with zero emissions, was the star attraction on the PowerCell Group booth, this year.
During the show, PowerCell confirmed the system was on track to obtain Lloyd’s Register type approval. “This is the next generation of our previous marine system, where we have increased the power output from 200kW to 225kW,” said Emilia Eråker, product quality manager, PowerCell Group.
“PowerCell has a proven record with an established customer base, including the recent launch of a mega-yacht here in the Netherlands, and we have a large system being installed on a vessel for another customer in the region, soon. By combining our systems, customers can reach the megawatts they need for these types of ship. Meanwhile, marine type approval will also help to speed our progress, rather than just having specific vessel approvals. We’ve met some naval architects and some system integrators, who are the visitors we need to talk to.”
With a footprint of less than 2m3 and a weight of 540kg, the REXH2 onboard solution for zero-emission navigation from EODev generated strong interest at this year’s show. Developed around Toyota’s latest-generation fuel cell, REXH2 can reach power levels of 70kW per unit, and all the way up to megawatts when stacked.
The technology has just completed a seven-year odyssey around the world on board laboratory vessel Energy Observer, which returned to Saint-Malo, France, earlier this month. “REXH2 is on board Energy Observer,” confirmed Hermance Baraud, business development, EODev, during the show.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from visitors from the very start of the show, who are not just interested in the Energy Observer project but are also looking to secure similar technology for their own projects. We’ve seen a lot of integrators. There’s a lot more interest in hydrogen in general for marine applications – and we have other customers and case studies, for example in the superyacht sector, that are already on the water right now. We are not offering a prototype, we are completely industrialized, so if you need one of our products, it is available right now.”
HD KSOE’s (Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering) Eco Propulsion division (EcoPhin) made its first-ever appearance at the show this year.
The shipbuilder recently revealed its new technology to ensure more safety for ammonia-fueled vessels, having announced contracts for two ammonia-fueled LPG carriers last year, which took its total orders for ammonia-fueled ships to four.
HD KSOE also offers electric propulsion systems, combining a high-efficiency dual-fuel/diesel engine generator with a power converting system, energy storage system, electric motor and propulsion unit (thruster). A pure electric propulsion system (without ICE) is also an option, combining energy sources such as battery or fuel cells.
“The Eco Propulsion division has only been established for a year, and we’ve come here to meet European customers,” said Hyunchul Kim, team leader, Eco Propulsion division, HD KSOE. “We’ve booked many meetings, as we have many customers in Europe, including ship designers and shipowners, who we have invited to meet us here. It’s important for us to be here to explain that we can provide a full range of propulsion solutions – from mechanical, hybrid and pure electric – and the shipowner can choose whatever they want.”
Freudenberg e-Power Systems was in Amsterdam to present its Xpand pack – a fast-charging, long-life battery suitable for a wide range of applications and power demands.
For small vessels, one or more systems can be distributed across the vessel neatly and flexibly, with the pack’s outstanding energy-to-weight ratio enabling higher payloads. For large vessels, the company says its fully integrated battery rack solutions offer virtually no limit to the number of installed packs.
“We focus on providing our customers with the best-in-class total cost of ownership, which includes lowering service and maintenance costs, maximizing range and optimizing payload or passenger cabins,” said Elaine Arnold, marketing specialist, Freudenberg e-Power Systems.
“With certified fuel cell systems for hydrogen, methanol and liquified natural gas, we can help you reduce your emissions, improve your efficiency and enhance your competitiveness in the maritime market,” she continued.
“We are pleased to be part of Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo to present our solutions for the electrification of the maritime industry to a broad audience. With our needs-oriented battery and fuel cell systems, we are a trusted partner for the journey to net zero.”
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Amogy was at the show to demonstrate how its integrated ammonia-to-electric power system provides a mature, scalable and highly efficient method for generating electrical power in combination with hydrogen fuel cells.
The company’s patented ammonia-to-electrical power system splits – or ‘cracks’ – liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is then funneled into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power with zero carbon emissions.
On its booth, Amogy showed off a model of the world’s first carbon-free ammonia-powered vessel, which is set to sail later this summer and serve as a compelling proof of concept of Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system. The tugboat, named the NH3 Kraken, will highlight the feasibility of using ammonia as a clean fuel to help drive the energy transition in the maritime industry.
“Meeting the maritime industry’s aggressive goals for decarbonization is a monumental, but completely achievable task – as long as we have ‘all hands on deck’,” said Christian Berg, managing director, Amogy, during the show. “It requires us to rethink nearly every component of a ship’s propulsion system, which will truly be an industry-wide effort. We’re happy to be here to show our peers and colleagues how Amogy is contributing with our ammonia-powered solutions and look forward to meeting others in the maritime engineering ecosystem that we can collaborate with to push the industry forward, toward its aggressive goals, more quickly.”
EPTechnologies, a leader in electric propulsion systems, and Hyrex, a pioneering developer of advanced hydrogen drivelines, announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the maritime sector through innovative hydrogen propulsion technology, on the first day of Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe.
By combining EPTechnologies’ expertise in electric propulsion with Hyrex’s advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology, the partnership will focus on developing and commercializing hydrogen-electric drivelines for small pleasure boats and commercial vessels. The collaboration is expected to set new standards in the industry, offering enhanced efficiency, reduced emissions and superior performance.
“This partnership with EPTechnologies represents a thrilling leap forward in our mission to innovate within the maritime industry,” said Eirik Malterud, CEO, Hyrex. “Our combined efforts will accelerate the adoption of hydrogen technologies in marine applications, ensuring a cleaner, greener future for all.”
“EPT is proud to partner with Hyrex to lead the future of sustainable transportation, merging our expertise in electric propulsion with their advanced hydrogen propulsion technology,” added Marco Ottiker, COO and co-owner of EPTechnologies. “Together, we can deliver groundbreaking, eco-friendly solutions that push the boundaries of clean energy and revolutionize the marine industry.”
The partnership will also focus on research and development, aiming to tackle the current challenges in hydrogen storage and fuel cell durability.
Meanwhile, Corvus Energy announced that it had received type approval from DNV for its Blue Whale marine energy storage system during the show. The DNV type approval confirms that the large-scale energy storage system (ESS) complies with the most stringent rules, regulations and safety requirements in the industry, as defined by one of the leading maritime class societies.
“We are very pleased that the Blue Whale ESS design has received type approval from DNV, meeting the highest safety standards in the industry,” said Fredrik Witte, CEO of Corvus Energy.
“Developing a full family of battery energy storage systems with highly flexible architecture is a clear path toward powering a clean future for shipping. Scalable technology combined with safety and easy integration will help accelerate the transition and make clean energy available to more vessel types.”
In addition to securing DNV type approval, Corvus Energy is pursuing type approval from ABS, RINA, BV and Lloyd’s Register.
Expert conference
Alongside the exhibition, the Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe Conference featured over 70 speakers and nine conference tracks, enabling delegates to discover the latest projects and trends from major shipowners and operators, classification societies, specialist suppliers and respected academics.
Key highlights included a presentation from Galen Hon from the Office of Environment and Innovation at the United States Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration, titled “Energy transition in the US domestic fleet”; and an update on “The challenges to ship owners in the decarbonization process, and the responsibilities of equipment manufacturers,” from Elias Boletis, chair of the CIMAC Working Group 10 ‘End Users’.
Don’t miss next year’s show: the dates for your diary are 24, 25 & 26 June, 2025, with the event once again held at the RAI Amsterdam.
