ABB-Ballard agreement in order to develop systems of cells to fuel for the propulsion of the great ships



Technological group Helvetic ABB, than work mainly in the fields of the electrification, automation, robotics and control of the enlivened one, and the American Ballard Power Systems, specialized in the development of the systems of the fuel cells for the electric power production, an agreement has undersigned in order to collaborate to the development of systems fuel cell for the field of the shipping.

Specific objective of the understanding is that to generally develop to the current technologies of the fuel cells times to the production of kilowatt of electric power upgrading the ability to the systems in order to reach a production of megawatt of energy necessary in order to use this technology for the propulsion of the great ships. ABB and Ballard have specified that a system fuel cell in a position to producing three megawatt (4,000 electric power HP) will have not advanced dimensions to those of a traditional engine to fossil fuel of a ship.

Evidencing that the systems of fuel cells can have various applications in naval field, as for the energy supply while the ship is in pause in a port or for feeding the propulsion when the ship is in navigation, the two companies have specified that in the starting phase their collaboration will centralize on the development of systems fuel cell for the fleeting ships.

Moreover ABB and Ballard have emphasized that proton exchange the membranes fuel cell (PEM), converting the chemical energy of the hydrogen directly in electric power through an electrochemical reaction, do not involve combustion and directly convert the fuel in electricity, heating and clean water.

"This memorandum of understanding - the commercial director of the Ballard has commented, Rob Campbell - is an important step ahead in the collaboration that is already in existence with ABB, the innovative leader of market in the field of the solutions for the marine field. The market of the marine transport is in fast evolution and constitutes an exciting opportunity of increase for the technology of the fuel cells to zero emissions. Besides this, the experience of the Ballard in the development and implementation of systems of cells to fuel with membrane to protonico exchange for it I use on the mainland confers us the necessary competences and acquaintances in order to collaborate effectively to the development of solutions to clean energy for the main applications in marine field".

"The next generation of ships, connected electrical workers, digitals and - it has found the president of the division Industrial Automation of ABB, Peter Terwiesch - will demand energetic sources that not only are able to satisfy the increasing ask of fuel saving, but that they afford also cleaned a sure marine transport more and. Therefore we are enthusiastic to collaborate with Ballard Power Systems in order to promote the development of the technology of the fuel cells of next generation that will feed the ships of the future".