The Westcon shipyard in Norway will soon begin testing fuel cells that could reduce carbon emissions by up to 50 percent. Ship owner Eidesvik's LNG vessel, 'Viking Lady' will be the test centre for the testing of fuel cells. Germany's MTU Onsite Energy has developed the fuel cell technology, which is already being used for redundant power supply on land. However, using it on board a ship amid movement and rough weather conditions would be a challenge.
"I am convinced that fuel cells are the power of the future," Thomas Hebe Tronsad was quoted as saying by Norwegian technical weekly magazine, Teknisk Ukeblad. "In 100 years I doubt we will find many combustion engines on board Norwegian ships."
Testing will begin next month. The next step would be to test parts of the equipment at Wartsila's facilities outside Bergen.
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