French marine engineering firm Green Navy has received a subsidy of €1.5 million (US$1.6 million) from the government of the Brittany Region for the development of a new catamaran vessel that will feature hydrogen-electric propulsion.
Prometeo is being developed as a high-speed passenger shuttle for operation along coastal routes.
Currently in its initial production phase, this vessel will be equipped with optimised electric propulsion and hydrogen storage tanks. It will be offered as a bareboat charter solution and could also be sold to shipowners or public authorities responsible for inter-island, urban bay crossings or leisure trips.
Prometeo's propulsion system will operate using high-efficiency electric motors and optimised propellers. These motors will draw energy from buffer storage batteries.
The onboard hydrogen will meanwhile serve as a complementary energy source, with a higher capacity than that of the batteries. By combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air within two fuel cells, electricity is produced, which in turn recharges the batteries.
