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Ponant partnering with Farwind on green hydrogen refueling solutions

Ponant is collaborating with start-up Farwind Energy to develop solutions for ship refueling with renewable hydrogen.

Holly Payne, Editor Video Production and Deputy Editor

March 28, 2024

2 Min Read
Ponant farwind partner green hydrogen
Rendering: Three quarters of the front view of the Farwind energy ship with rotor sailsPHOTO: CABINET MAURIC

Based in Nantes, France and the Caribbean, Farwind develops innovative solutions to enable renewable energy to be supplied as close as possible to its point of consumption and in a form adapted to requirements. 

Its energy ship technology aims to produce electricity at sea from offshore wind and transform it into hydrogen by the electrolysis of seawater. 

The hydrogen can then be transported to shore to be used as a fuel, a solution particularly well suited to island territories, or ship refueling can take place at sea.

The two partners have set a goal to commission both Ponant’s Swap2Zero project – an emissions-free ship concept – and Farwind’s first energy ship at the same time by 2030.

‘An unprecedented revolutionary approach’

‘Farwind Energy’s hydrogen production technology has the advantage of offering hydrogen refueling solutions in places where there are no means of production and supply,’ explained Mathieu Petiteau, newbuilding and R&D director, Ponant

‘This collaboration is an opportunity to jointly develop a major project that associates a ship with her own source of renewable energy produced locally. It is an unprecedented revolutionary approach that makes total sense.’ 

Petiteau went on to say, ‘The Swap2Zero programme is the ideal demonstrator to scale up this solution and set new standards. This technological building block will be integrated into our other areas of R&D to support our decarbonisation strategy.’ 

Road map 

The cruise line and Farwind have created a road map to develop the production and use of renewable marine hydrogen, where they will share progress on the management of hydrogen on board and collaborate on development of first-use cases and overcoming potential technological obstacles. 

Farwind Energy Chairman Arnaud Poitou said, ‘This collaboration opens up new perspectives for our highly innovative renewable energy production technology. Capable of being produced near the ship’s operating areas, our liquid hydrogen represents a promising solution to decarbonise maritime transport.’

Read more about:

Ponantfuels

About the Author

Holly Payne

Editor Video Production and Deputy Editor

Holly is Deputy Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review & Seatrade Cruise News and has experience managing a range of highly successful international business and consumer titles. With a flair for video reporting and a history of overseas work documenting people and places of diverse cultures, Holly brings a variety of skills to the Seatrade Cruise portfolio.

Holly’s academic credentials include oral and written Arabic language skills (intermediate-advanced), an MA Multimedia Journalism with NCTJ accreditation, and a BA (Hons) Degree in Classical and Archaeological Studies with English and American Literature.

 

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