RIX Industries, a leading developer of gas generation systems and energy technologies, today announced it has been awarded a significant contract by Maritime Partners, a privately held company and leading provider of tailored financing and leasing solutions for the U.S. maritime industry. The company’s fleet of over 1,600 vessels transports commodities comprising the building blocks for the U.S. domestic economy, including agricultural products, chemicals, aggregates, crude oil, and refined petroleum products. The order stipulates the purchase of 10 RIX methanol-to-hydrogen (M2H2) reformer systems for use on Hydrogen One, the world’s first methanol/hydrogen fuel cell-powered towboat.
By integrating technology licensed from Element 1 (dba e1), the RIX M2H2 Series systems produce hydrogen-on-demand, eliminating the complexities of on-board high-pressure gas or cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage. The RIX M2H2 Series systems generate high-purity (99.97%) hydrogen with zero NOx, SOx, or particulate matter, enabling a superior method of addressing decarbonization efforts. The M2H2 systems are combined with PEM fuel cells to deliver primary power on the vessel.
“Sustainability in workboat operations, specifically the inland brown water sector, is a priority for the industry,” said Austin Sperry, President, Maritime Partners. “By deploying RIX M2H2 reformers to power the fuel cells – on-demand, when needed – on our groundbreaking Hydrogen One vessel, Maritime Partners is sending a clear message that cleaner energy emissions can be achieved via convenient, manageable, and available hydrogen processes.”
RIX systems deliver high efficiency with minimal vibration/noise and low GHG emissions for power-critical applications. These M2H2 systems, capable of supporting fuel cell solutions from 10kw to 140kw with a single reformer, can be aggregated to support MW applications, and are flexible for operations such as ship propulsion, auxiliary power systems, reefer container power, and cold ironing.
“The methanol-to-hydrogen process is changing the dynamics of vessel propulsion. On-board hydrogen generation is a reality, decoding the longstanding challenges of high-pressure storage and cryogenic temperature requirements,” said Bryan Reid, Chief Sales Officer, RIX Industries. “Maritime Partners recognizes this breakthrough and, with our M2H2 Series reformers, will be primed to take full advantage of the wide availability of portside methanol – meeting not only Hydrogen One’s propulsion needs but also looming environmental mandates to offset dangerous emissions.”
About Maritime Partners
Maritime Partners, LLC is a leading provider of maritime financing solutions, specializing in Jones Act trades. With a fleet of 1,600 vessels in service, we offer tailored leasing services to operators across the full spectrum of credit quality. A privately held company founded in 2015, Maritime Partners, LLC provides the assets that transport the commodities which represent the primary building blocks of the domestic economy, including agricultural products, chemicals, aggregates, crude oil, and refined petroleum products. Our management team leverages more than 50 years of operational experience in chartering, asset management, shipbuilding, and financing across all marine asset classes. To learn more about Maritime Partners, LLC please visit maritimepartnersllc.com.
About RIX Industries
Serving critical infrastructure markets, RIX Industries is a global leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of gas generation systems, precision compression solutions, and cryogenic cooling technologies. RIX innovation solves challenges in mission-critical applications including marine, aerospace, land, energy, industrial, and medical. Company expertise extends to newer technologies focused on the future, including its latest commitment to pioneering hydrogen-on-demand systems for infrastructure and mobility initiatives worldwide. Founded in 1878, the company is headquartered in Benicia, California, and operates additional facilities in Sparks, Nevada (Production) and Rockville, California (Innovation Center). For more information, visit RIX Industries.
 reformer systems for use on Hydrogen One, the world’s first methanol/hydrogen fuel cell-powered towboat. By integrating technology licensed from Element 1 (dba e1), the RIX M2H2 Series systems produce hydrogen-on-demand, eliminating the complexities of on-board high-pressure gas or cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage. The RIX M2H2 Series systems generate high-purity (99.97%) hydrogen with zero NOx, SOx, or particulate matter, enabling a superior method of addressing decarbonization efforts. The M2H2 systems are combined with PEM fuel cells to deliver primary power on the vessel.){kind=link}