Good News from Mon, 14 June, 2010:

Wärtsilä tests environmentally friendly fuel cell technology

Wärtsilä The WFC20 fuel cell unit is based on planar solid oxide fuel cell technology, which produces energy with low emissions.
Wärtsilä has installed a WFC20 fuel cell unit onboard a car carrier named Undine, which is managed by Wallenius Marine. The power unit is unique due to its SOFC-technology, which provides auxiliary power to the vessel while producing close to zero emissions. The vessel is currently on its way to the United States.

The WFC20 fuel cell unit has a nominal output of 20 kilowatts and it is based on planar solid oxide fuel cell technology (SOFC). The unit is fuelled with methanol, which is easily reformed to a composition suitable for the unit. Also, methanol can be produced from natural gas, or from renewable raw materials, and it is available in all major harbours.

Installation of the WFC20 fuel cell unit is the result of a joint project by the international METHAPU consortium, which works towards developing environmentally friendly marine solutions. In addition to Wärtsilä, other participants in the consortium are Wallenius Marine, Lloyd’s Register, Det Norske Veritas, and the University of Genoa.  The project is part of the European Community Framework Programme (FP6) and it has been funded with 1 million euro from the European Union.

President of Wallenius Marine, Per Croner states that the METHAPU project enables the commercialization of fuel cell technology and the utilization of renewable fuels within the marine traffic.

www.wartsila.com


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