Norwegian shipowner Odfjell and classification society DNV have announced plans to collaborate on the installation of a small-size solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) on board a chemical tanker by the end of 2024. 

While the containerised fuel cell solution for the Odfjell trial will operate on natural gas, Alma Clean Power has also been developing fuel cells capable of operating on both ammonia and methanol. Alma Clean Power was awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) by DNV for its 1MW ammonia-fuelled SOFC system design in January 2023.

The demonstration project represents a continuation of Odfjell’s collaboration with Norway-based fuel cell technology developer, Alma Clean Power. As reported by The Motorship in October 2020, the shipowner had announced plans to trial a larger capacity SOFC developed by Prototech, the technology incubator from which Alma Clean Power was spun off, on board one of Odfjell’s newest chemical tankers with erstwhile project partners Wärtsilä and Lundin Energy Norway.