Yanmar Power Technology, a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings, has been granted Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV, the world’s leading classification society, for its GH320FC Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System. This critical certification marks a major advancement in the commercialisation of hydrogen-powered marine propulsion and validates Yanmar’s technology as a viable pathway to decarbonise the shipping industry.
The GH320FC is designed as a next-generation power source for marine applications with an innovative design that facilitates easy installation on various types of vessels. The system also allows for multiple units to be connected in parallel and offers flexibility in the number of hydrogen fuel cell modules, enabling it to meet diverse power requirements across different ship types and operations.
“We are excited about this new milestone in meeting our customers’ needs for sustainable clean energy solutions in the marine sector,” said Eric Tigelaar, Department Manager of the Commercial Marine Department at Yanmar Europe. “Our hydrogen fuel cell system is particularly well suited for applications such as coastal passenger ferries, inland waterway cargo vessels, port service vessels and operations in low or zero emission zones across Europe.”
Masaru Hirose, Director, General Manager of Large Power Products Business at Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd, stated: “This is a significant milestone in bringing our Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell solutions to European customers. Drawing on our experience with previous installations such as the hydrogen fuel cell system being used on a coastal passenger ferry currently in commercial operation in Japan, we believe our solutions can help the customers to achieve their decarbonization goals.”
Olaf Drews, Head of Engines & Pressurised Equipment, DNV Maritime, remarked: “As the maritime industry pushes forward towards decarbonisation, we need to examine every option that offers full zero-emission operations. And fuel cells in combination with clean renewably produced fuels are a highly efficient and scalable power solution to meet this challenge. DNV is very pleased to award this AiP to Yanmar and to partner with such a future focused company to help set the stage for shipping’s next generation of vessels. We look forward to building on this great cooperation, working together to safely realize the benefits of this innovative technology for the maritime industry.”
*An Approval in Principle (AiP) is an independent assessment of a concept within an agreed framework, confirming that the design is feasible, and no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realised.
