Viking Energy vessel awarded AiP
By on July 15, 2024
Eidesvik receives preliminary approval for SOFC-powered design
Click to learn more. The ammonia fuel system onboard the Viking Energy has received preliminary approval from the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Source: ShipFC.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has approved the ammonia fuel system design to be deployed onboard the Eidesvik-owned platform supply vessel, Viking Energy. The vessel conversion project has been in progress since 2020, funded by the EU. The ammonia fuel system will directly feed 2 MW of solid oxide fuel cells, allowing for “long-range…high power” sailing of up to 3,000 hours per year.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has confidently issued a preliminary assessment to Eidesvik AS for their vessel Viking Energy. This is one of the few vessels that have progressed this far in the approval process with us. The Norwegian Maritime Authority hopes this project marks the beginning of the green transition within the offshore segment.
Ivar Ingvaldsen, Norwegian Maritime Authority’s Section of New Maritime Technology in ShipFC’s official press release, 3 July 2024
This is a very important milestone, recognizing the significant work invested in the ShipFC project. It demonstrates that everything we have planned in this pioneering project is feasible from a regulatory perspective.
Lars Vestbøstad, Technical Development Manager at Eidesvik AS in ShipFC’s official press release, 3 July 2024
In June this year, ShipFC project partner Yara opened its electrolytic hydrogen plant in Herøya, Norway, allowing for 20,000 tons per year renewable ammonia production at an adjacent plant. Some of this ammonia will be used as fuel for the Viking Energy.
Demonstrating zero-carbon sailing for larger ships
Click to learn more. The North Sea Giant, a construction vessel the ShipFC consortium is studying for the potential deployment of a large-scale, ammonia-fed SOFC propulsion system. Source: Wärtsilä.
A significant part of the ShipFC project has been the scale-up of a 100kW, ammonia-fed solid oxide fuel cell system to 2 MW power output. With the onboard fuel infrastructure design now approved, the partners can deploy and demonstrate the vessel, which will eventually be put into commercial operation for energy major Equinor.
In parallel, the ShipFC consortium is also studying three other large vessel types for deployment of this ammonia-fed propulsion system: a bunker vessel, a cargo vessel, as well as the North Sea Shipping construction vessel North Sea Giant. In 2019, the North Sea Giant had a battery hybrid system installed onboard to reduce operational emissions. The consortium will explore and define a pathway to much larger demonstrations than the Viking Energy, somewhere in the 20-plus MW range of power output.