Million Nautical Mile Fuel Cell System

ongoing

The overreaching objective of the MiNaMi project is to develop the first megawatt (MW) size Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) for maritime use, with a lifetime of 80,000 hours, enabling it to operate over a million nautical miles with a speed of 12.5 knots. This megawatt-size PEMFC system and its related power electronics will be designed to function as building blocks for systems exceeding 10 MW enabling new applications for maritime fuel cells. These multi-MW FCS systems are designed using both FC simulations as well as safety and reliability modelling. The use of latest stack technology will reduce footprint of the system which increases the payload and usable volume for the fuel, cargo and passengers. The long lifetime would be enabled by optimised system designed and operation and with an advanced hydrogen and humidity sensor solution enabling optimisation of FC system control, when stack and balance-of-plant (BoP) components are aging. The system efficiency is improved with advanced BoP design and with purge optimisation, which also minimises hydrogen emissions to the atmosphere. While focus in the MiNaMi project is in maritime applications the multi-stack solutions of the project can be applied in all MW scale PEMFC applications, including trains and large working machines, such as mine trucks as well as peak power plans supporting electric grid. The results of MiNaMi enable first European PEMFC system manufacturing in MW-scale. While the benefits of the solutions developed in MiNaMi project are largest in MW scale applications, these can be used in all other applications where multiple stacks are used. The use of green hydrogen in MW scale PEMFC systems enable decarbonisation of transport sectors, where direct electrification with batteries do not provide sufficient solution. The results of MiNaMi will support Europe in keeping leading global position in the development of MW scale PEMFC systems especially for maritime applications.