Under the contract, 10 RIX M2H2 Series systems that produce hydrogen on-demand, which is said to eliminate the need of on-board high-pressure gas or cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage, will be delivered to Maritime Partners.
RIX says its system, which integrates technology licensed by Element 1, can generate high-purity hydrogen with zero NOx, SOx, or particulate matter, which will be combined with PEM fuel cells to deliver primary power for the vessel.
Dubbed Hydrogen One, Maritime Partners’ vessel is set to showcase sustainability in workboat operations, with a particular focus on inland sailing.
In 2021, Admore Shipping announced a new strategic investment and joint venture with Element 1 Crop and Maritime Partners to develop hydrogen power to the marine sector.
Read more: New hydrogen joint venture set to revolutionise marine sector
Commenting on the order, Austin Sperry, President of Maritime Partners, said, “Sustainability in workboat operations, specifically the inland brown water sector, is a priority for the industry. 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.”
Bryan Reid, Chief Sales Officer at RIX Industries, added, “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.
“Maritime Partners recognises 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.”
Spotlight on… Element 1 Corp
© Element 1 Corp
Located in Bend, Oregon in the US, Element 1 Corp is focused on developing practical solutions for affordable, onsite, on-demand hydrogen production. Drawing on more than 140 man-years of experience in hydrogen generation, purification and fuel cells, the technical team at Element 1 says it has achieved the most compact and highest efficiency hydrogen generator available today.
Founded in 2012 by partners Dave Edlund, now CEO of Element 1, and Robert Schluter, Managing Director of e1 Marine, the company has remained true to the vision of its founders to deliver best-in-class hydrogen generator technology to the global markets via licensing to strategic partners.
Recognising that the manufacture of hydrogen is not difficult but transporting it (compressed or liquid) can be both expensive and challenging, the approach used by Element 1 is to convert a mixture of methanol and water into high-purity hydrogen at the point of use. The hydrogen product is said to meet or exceed ISO 14687-2019 purity specifications for low-temperature PEM fuel cells…
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