Fuel cell manufacturer Blue World Technologies sets sail for the maritime market

The shipping industry accounts for around three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. With the development of a fuel cell-based APU system running on methanol, Blue World Technologies wants to accelerate the green transition of the maritime market.

The Danish fuel cell manufacturer Blue World Technologies extends its activities in shipping. With a methanol fuel cell-powered auxiliary power unit (APU), the company wants to replace conventional diesel generators for power supply on board ships. Blue World Technologies is an ambitious and visionary developer and manufacturer of high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HT PEM) fuel cells and will start series production later in December 2022. The company’s focus on the maritime industry is supported by the Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Ventures, that in August 2022 entered as an investor and completed Blue World’s series-B round of a total of 37 million euros.

With the decision of extending the company’s activities within development and manufacturing to cover APU systems for marine usage, the company will be able to provide modular APU solutions in the megawatt range for direct integration in new builds as well as retrofits in existing ships.

The methanol fuel cell system of Blue World Technologies can supply the electricity needed on board a ship using a simple and modular cabinet configuration consisting of 200 kilowatts cabinets that combined can provide an energy load in the megawatt range. This means that the energy supply can be tailored to specific customer needs. To compensate for the green premium of e-fuels such as methanol, the Blue World methanol fuel cell APU system will have an energy efficiency of 45 to 60 per cent. This will lower the operating costs and thereby enable a cost-efficient use of e-fuels.

Renewable methanol is considered one of the most potential fuels of the future in shipping, as its use allows for climate-neutral operation. Globally, renowned shipping companies have started to upgrade their fleets to this green fuel. In addition to net-zero CO2 emissions, the Blue World fuel cells will ensure an operation where no NOx, SOx, and harmful particles are emitted.

In the coming years, Blue World will expand its production capacity and aims for taking a further step into the maritime market with methanol fuel cell systems for propulsion.