Bloom Energy, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, and MSC chart a course for cruise ships powered by fuel cells.
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE), Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA), and the cruise division of MSC Group announced plans to launch the first cruise ship operating on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology.
The MSC World Europa, a new state-of the-art cruise liner currently under construction at the CdA shipyard, will be fitted with 150 kilowatts of Bloom fuel cells. Bloom will provide auxiliary power to the ship through liquefied natural gas (LNG), one of the cleanest marine fuels available.
Bloom’s fuel-flexible platform is designed to generate electricity 20 to 30 percent more efficiently through a non-combustion electrochemical process when utilizing LNG compared to traditional marine combustion-based propulsion and auxiliary engines.
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When running on LNG, Bloom Energy’s technology reduces carbon equivalent emissions up to 60 percent compared to incumbent propulsion sources, such as dual fuel diesel electric, and emits virtually zero harmful air pollutants like sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman, cruise division, MSC Group.
The installation of SOFC technology onboard the MSC World Europa reflects the success of our proactive and challenging collaboration with our partners and suppliers to identify solutions to help us reach our 2050 net zero emissions target.
“This is one of the many projects we are working on, and we will be relentless in our pursuit of the best solutions to reach this key objective for us. As part of this project, the crew of MSC World Europa will be specifically trained to operate this innovative technology and their participation will greatly contribute to the future development of SOFC technology for our industry.”
“We hope to be able to install this technology on board our future new builds at a much larger scale to bring us ever closer to zero emissions.”
With more than 100 cruise ships requiring over four gigawatts of power commissioned for construction by 2027 across the cruise line industry, Bloom’s fuel cells unlock a viable pathway to decarbonization while ensuring cruise ship passengers and coastal communities with heavy maritime traffic enjoy cleaner air.
As an added benefit for cruise ship passengers, noise pollution and mechanical vibrations are substantially reduced when Bloom’s fuel cells are used as a power source aboard ships.
Tim Schweikert, senior managing director, international business development, Bloom Energy.
The emergence of LNG as a viable, lower carbon fuel combined with the adaptability of Bloom’s fuel cells will support the maritime industry’s ambitious climate goals, such as the International Maritime Organization’s mandate to halve greenhouse emissions in coming years.
“Notably, as the hydrogen economy matures and supply becomes more widely available, Bloom’s fuel-flexible platform will help power marine vessels with net-zero emissions.”
CdA is a world leader in designing and delivering breakthrough, innovative ships, bringing cutting-edge technologies, concepts and processes to its maritime customers across the globe. In 2019, CdA and the cruise division of MSC Group unveiled Blue Horizon; a ground-breaking initiative that integrates SOFC technology on LNG-powered cruise ships to decarbonize the maritime industry.
Blue Horizon for MSC World Europa has received approval from the classification company Bureau Veritas.
Laurent Castaing, general manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
Our collaboration with Bloom Energy to implement their technology on the MSC World Europa highlights our dedication to bringing the latest and most environmentally friendly technology aboard the ships we build.
“With its groundbreaking green technologies, the MSC World Europa truly represents the future of the maritime industry. We’re excited that Bloom Energy is a part of this vision.”
This deployment of Bloom’s solid oxide technology onboard the MSC World Europa is part of a broader strategy for the cruise division of MSC Group; the world’s third largest ship brand. MSC Group has long been committed to environmental stewardship with a goal to achieve net zero emissions for its operations by 2050.
The company is a significant investor in next-generation environmental marine technologies like SOFC, with the objective to support their accelerated development and availability industry-wide.
The collaboration is the most recent in Bloom Energy’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize the maritime industry. This summer, Bloom Energy’s initial design for an engineless, fuel cell-powered LNG carrier in conjunction with Samsung Heavy Industries received Approval in Principle from DNV, a premier international maritime classification society.
Bloom Energy also received verification as an alternative power source for vessels as part of the American Bureau of Shipping’s New Technology Qualification.
Sea trials for the MSC World Europa are expected to commence in the second half of 2022. Larger fuel cell installations are anticipated on additional ships in collaboration with CdA in the future. Thanks for staying up to date with Hydrogen Central.
About Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy’s mission is to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world. Bloom Energy’s product, the Bloom Energy Server, delivers highly reliable and resilient, always-on electric power that is clean, cost-effective, and ideal for microgrid applications.
Bloom Energy’s customers include many Fortune 100 companies and leaders in manufacturing, data centers, healthcare, retail, higher education, utilities, and other industries. For more information, visit www.bloomenergy.com.
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BLOOM ENERGY, CHANTIERS DE L’ATLANTIQUE, AND MSC CHART A COURSE FOR CRUISE SHIPS POWERED BY CLEAN ENERGY, SAN JOSE, Calif., SAINT-NAZAIRE, France and GENEVA, Switzerland, December 16, 2021
