Compact Syngas Solutions (CSS) will produce 200 kilograms of hydrogen from waste to fuel a 40-day sea trial of a zero-emission marine hydrogen engine. The 50kW auxiliary engine, developed by Carnot with the support of a £2.3 million UK government grant, will be tested at Brunel University before being installed on a Carisbrooke Shipping K-class cargo vessel. The trial, set for March 2025, will navigate the Irish Sea between Bristol and Belfast.
The global shipping industry, responsible for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, faces ambitious targets to cut emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. While smaller vessels might adopt electrification or fuel cells, ocean-going ships require alternative solutions. Carnot's prototype engine serves as a precursor to larger systems, eventually scaling up to 1 to 10MW main engines.
CSS, based in Deeside, Wales, stepped in to supply hydrogen after sourcing challenges arose. The company specializes in waste-to-hydrogen technology, using advanced gasification to convert biomass and non-recyclable materials into hydrogen, electricity, and heat. The process also produces biochar, which sequesters carbon and has various applications. CSS recently received nearly £4 million in government funding to enhance its carbon capture capabilities.
Karen Taylor, CMO of CSS, expressed optimism about the collaboration, highlighting the marine industry's need for innovative decarbonization solutions like hydrogen and methanol. Jeremy Howard-Knight, Carnot's head of business development, praised CSS for facilitating the trial, which aims to revolutionize emissions reduction in shipping.
This trial underscores the potential of hydrogen-based technologies in tackling the sector's carbon footprint and meeting future sustainability goals.
