Thursday, February 20, 2025
Power & PropulsionHydrogen‘PROMETEO’ The First To Use Newly Certified REXH2 Hydrogen Fuel Cell

‘PROMETEO’ The First To Use Newly Certified REXH2 Hydrogen Fuel Cell

EODev (Energy Observer Developments) has been awarded the Type Approval Certificate (TAC) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for its REXH2 hydrogen fuel cell. This milestone was announced at the Hyvolution 2025 exhibition in Paris, where EODev also revealed that the PROMETEO, a cutting-edge electro-hydrogen catamaran developed by Green Navy, will be the world’s first vessel to integrate the certified REXH2® technology.

Charles Cardi, CEO of Green Navy, said: “The REXH2 ® brings cutting-edge technology to the PROMETEO project, helping us realise our vision for passenger vessels that meet environmental goals without compromising performance.”

The REXH2 hydrogen fuel cell represents the culmination of years of collaboration between EODev and Toyota, combined with Bureau Veritas’ technical expertise and rigorous safety validation. It is an evolutionary and highly secure ‘plug and play’ model that relies on Toyota’s advanced Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology. The REXH2 ® solution meets the strictest safety and performance standards while reducing the maritime industry’s dependence on fossil fuels.

REXH2® positions itself as a viable, reliable, and safe alternative for producing clean energy aboard. Guy Saillard, Naval Architect & Green Navy Project Manager explains: “The choice of REXH2 ® fuel cells is justified by the maturity of the equipment, its adaptation to the marine environment, and its operational safety. The power range is perfectly suited for energy generation on a vessel of PROMETEO’s size and for continuously recharging battery packs. The batteries can deliver instant variable power to the propulsion system. The storage of hydrogen gas in pressurised bottles means that energy supplies can be adapted according to the vessel’s requirements and the operator’s needs.”

This certification marks a major milestone for Green Navy and its PROMETEO project, Europe’s first electro-hydrogen-powered catamaran designed for commercial passenger transport. The Company is working closely with various partners including SEE Merré and SECO Marine, as well as the Brittany Region, which co-finances the project with an investment of Euro 1.5 million.

“Our 24-metre catamaran will first be deployed in Brittany, France,” says Cardi. “It will be able to transport 200 passengers with zero emissions, offering a sustainable and scalable solution for regional maritime transport.”

Green Navy remains on course and is preparing to launch, in collaboration with Bureau Veritas, the second level ‘Approval in Principle’ (AiP) process. This will be carried out in close cooperation with SECO Marine, whose expertise in decarbonised solutions and energy transition complements Green Navy’s vision.

“By undertaking the AiP process with Bureau Veritas we benefit from the support of a trusted partner to validate the project’s feasibility. This is a key step as we will have the first safety review of the concept and all selected components, including the certified REXH2® fuel cell,” adds Cardi. “Our goal is to complete this phase by June next year in coordination with the Ship Safety Centre in Brest. After that, we will order all the necessary hydrogen components for construction.”

Green Navy relies on a robust operational strategy and fosters synergies through strong and skilled subcontracting partners who share its ambition to develop zero-carbon solutions for passenger maritime transport.

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