The Brittany Region has granted a subsidy of €1.5m ($1.6m) to Green Navy to support the development of its hydrogen-powered catamaran project, dubbed PROMETEO.
The zero-emission passenger shuttle vessel will be used in La Forêt-Fouesnant in Brittany, France, although the project is currently in its initial production phase with only a concept ready.
It will be equipped with electric propulsion and hydrogen storage tanks and be offered as a bare-boat charter solution, but could also be sold to shipowners or public authorities responsible for inter-island, urban bay crossings or leisure sea trips.
The electric motors will draw energy from buffer storage batteries, while the onboard hydrogen will serve as a complementary energy source, with a higher capacity than the batteries. Combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air within the two fuel cells will produce electricity and recharge the batteries.
The project has been funded as it aligns with the regional roadmap for renewable hydrogen development.
“PROMETEO meets three of the objectives outlined in the Brittany roadmap,” Green Navy CEO, Charles Cardi explained, “decarbonising maritime transport, developing economic sectors related to the energy transition, and adapting mobility solutions to address climate change.”
The CEO went on to say, “[Our] innovative setup enables Green Navy to deploy a maritime transport solution that produces no CO2 emissions during navigation, operates without noise, odour, or vibration, and offers longer range and reduced docking times.
“Green Navy will test the vessel in real-world conditions, managing every phase of the project in collaboration with our partners (design, engineering, production, and testing) through to certification.”
Cardi added, “This approach will generate precise and consolidated feedback that will benefit many other hydrogen-fuel project developers in Brittany’s emerging sector.”
Last year, Umoe Mandal and TECO 2030 received preliminary approval for the design of a high-speed hydrogen fuel cell-powered catamaran, which would boast a multi-megawatt fuel cell. However, there have been no further updates on the project since last February.
Read more: Norwegian ‘multi-megawatt’ hydrogen-powered vessel design approved
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