Danish-Canadian consortium to develop carbon-neutral vessels under €4.5 million project

Danish shipping company MHO-Co is heading a consortium that will spend €4.5 million (US$5.35 million) during the next three years on developing carbon-neutral propulsion technologies for use in maritime transport.

Together with research engineers from Denmark’s Aalborg University, among other organisations, and with €2.15 million (US$2.56 million) in grants from the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP), MHO-Co will test fuel cells and new liquid cooling battery technology on two of its advanced hybrid vessels.

The other consortium partners are Canadian energy storage specialist Sterling PlanB Energy Solutions, Danfoss, Ballard Power Systems Europe, and Stuart Friezer Marine.

The technologies will be tested on two new hybrid-powered MHO-Co crewboats that are currently under construction in China. These are scheduled to enter operational service before the summer of 2021.