The development of a fuel cell system for river vessels is entering its third phase.
In the RiverCell3 project, a maritime fuel cell system with an total output of up to 500 kW is being developed and tested. Simulation models and software tools for the optimised operation of hybrid energy systems are being developed and validated. Questions around the economic efficiency and life cycle assessment of such systems will be specifically addressed in the RiverCell3 project. This will go a long way towards making shipping more climate-friendly in the inland waterway sector and to achieving European climate protection goals.
The project builds directly on the two previous projects: RiverCell2 and RiverCell1, and the basic concepts they developed. MEYER NEPTUN Engineering GmbH, Advent Technologies, Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG, Lloyd’s Register EMEA, Germany branch and Wismar University, Department of Maritime Studies, Systems Engineering and Logistics are among the participating cooperation partners. The project began in January 2024 and is expected to be completed by 31 December 2026.
Rivercell3 is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) under the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology with a total on 11.2 million euros. Funding for this measure is also provided under the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) via the European Recovery and Resistance Facilities (ARF) in the NextGenerationEU programme. The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ).