EU Funding Fuels Lürssen's Hydrogen Dream for Adriatic Navigation
EU-funded Lürssen leads a €18.9M project to build a hydrogen-powered, zero-emission passenger ship for Adriatic navigation.
In a commendable stride towards sustainability, Lürssen Design Center Kvarner has embarked on an ambitious initiative to construct a hydrogen-fuelled passenger ship, with EU financial backing. This groundbreaking project, known as the Zero-Emission Adriatic Ship (ZEAS), aims to redefine sailing in the Adriatic Sea with a budget hovering around €18.9 million, substantially supported by €13.5 million from the EU's Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation.
At the helm, Lürssen Design Center seeks to engineer a climate-neutral fuel system, promising to revolutionize maritime operations. A key element of this venture involves establishing an onshore hydrogen refuelling infrastructure alongside a sophisticated digital twin system to efficiently monitor and manage the ship’s propulsion, thereby optimizing both operation and maintenance strategies.
The collaborative nature of this project is highlighted by the involvement of 14 diverse companies from 7 different nations. Noteworthy participants include the Croatian state-owned Jadrolinija ferry operator and the University of Rijeka. Further enriching the ensemble are investment firm Gitone Kvarner and engineering pioneers Maritime Center of Excellence and Scan Projekt.
The initiative boasts international expertise with contributions from the Croatian Hydrogen Association, the dynamic Greek research company DNV Hellas Single Member, and Austria’s HyCenta Hydrogen technology research center. Spain’s Tecnoambiente lends its environmental consultancy prowess to this multifaceted mission.
Additionally, prominent partners include the German University of Technology in Chemnitz and ZenLab, a Slovenian IT innovator. Not to be overlooked is TECO 2030 ASA, a Norwegian clean technology trailblazer focusing on zero-emission solutions for the maritime industry.
The associated involvement of TECO 2030 Innovation Center further amplifies the project’s credentials. Following its recent introduction of a compact hydrogen fuel cell system termed FCM400, designed specifically for Lürssen yachts for sale and heavy-duty applications, this technology promises to liberate onboard space while minimizing carbon output, epitomizing the future of luxury, sustainable sailing.
