The maritime shipping industry keeps the global economy humming, with 80 percent of world trade taking place by sea. This outsized reliance on shipping means the industry can also bring worldwide commerce to a halt, as evidenced by the recent grounding of a cargo ship, the Ever Given, in the Suez Canal that triggered a floating traffic jam of more than 400 ships.

With more than 90,000 ships making up the world’s commercial fleet, carbon emissions from shipping alone account for approximately 3 percent of the world’s CO2. Modernizing one of the world’s oldest forms of trade with cutting-edge, clean energy technology is no small task, but that is exactly what Bloom Energy has set out to do. It is important that marine trade vessels and cruise ships use energy that is not only clean, but also efficient. However, it is not simply a matter of swapping one engine out for another.

Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are the most common form of propulsion and power on large sea vessels. ICEs have traditionally run on heavy fuel oil, an extremely pollutant fuel. While heavy fuel oil is a plentiful resource, it is also one of the dirtiest fuels in the world. Published studies have recognized the impact that burning heavy fuel oil has on the climate, prompting both governments and maritime organizations to set emissions standards in an effort to curb the negative effects. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established guidelines for all cargo ship operators suggesting that by the year 2050, CO2 emissions from cargo ships should be half what they were in 2008. This has left the marine industry searching for ways to meet this goal.

The Solution is Here

The answer is fuel cells. Fuel cells are a highly efficient form of electricity production that will put us on a path to cleaner fuels, and will help ship owners, builders and partners reach IMO mandates. The standard LNG tanker can require anywhere from 10 to 40 megawatts of fuel cell power. A cruise ship can require up to 100 megawatts of  power.

Bloom Energy’s fuel cells are fuel-flexible, meaning they can run on readily available natural gas, hydrogen, biogas or blends of any of those. And, Bloom Energy’s fuel cell technology has excelled at powering massive loads like stadiums, manufacturers and other large facilities on land. It makes sense that the same technology would be equally effective at sea.

By adopting land-based fuel cells for maritime applications, proposed designs of fuel cell-powered ships would have more than enough power to keep a working vessel, well… working. Natural gas fuel cells significantly reduce CO2 emissions and decrease smog-forming pollutants and particulate matter, like NOx and SOx, by more than 99 percent compared to entrenched power sources.

Maritime Certification

The certification process for marine fuel cells is a rigorous process, requiring that new technologies undergo a variety of operating scenarios to ensure they can withstand the rigors of the weather and use at sea. Classification societies like American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), Lloyd’s Register and DNV-GL expect any new maritime technologies to stand up to the rigors of maritime use. Bloom Energy’s fuel cells are expected to do just that.

Stringent certification standards require rigorous testing in an industry that already has centuries of rules and regulations. New technologies for ships should meet both current regulations and demonstrate alignment to future standards, which is what Bloom Energy is working on this year.

Full Steam Ahead

Bloom Energy is actively testing its technology for the marine environment, which differs greatly from fuel cells deployed on land. Ships and their onboard equipment must withstand and continue to operate effectively and safely with the constant motion of the ship and, at times, turbulent seas.

In Spring 2022, Bloom Energy’s fuel cell platform successfully completed ABS testing toward NTQ certification and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) with an outside testing agency. This means the fuel cells have been tested for functional safety, and the customer verified the performance of the fuel cells.

The next milestone is to install the systems on the ship and commission the system for sea voyage.

In addition to its own dedicated engineering and product teams, Bloom Energy has pulled in naval architects and marine engineering firm, Foreship, to collaborate on engineering and market aspects specific to the marine environment. Both teams have an eye for efficiency in their respective arenas, which is exactly what is needed to create solutions that meet the IMO’s mandate.

New technologies such as fuel cells often advance more rapidly than regulations.  Given there is not an experience record of new technologies in maritime applications, concerns relative to safety, durability and effectiveness must be addressed. The New Technology Qualification (NTQ) process is designed to address those concerns by providing guidance and recommendations to assure a smooth, low risk adoption of the technology into maritime use. Passing the ABS testing represents a major step toward NTQ certification. Bloom Energy plans to continue with the ABS certification process, which ensures that the technology goes through a technical evaluation and study of production compliance.

In Bloom Energy’s path to an ABS classification and as part of the NTQ service its participating in, the company received NTQ verification as an alternative power source for vessels, which demonstrates efficient implementation of new technologies, a level of maturity, and that potential risks have been systematically reviewed.

In addition, as a continuation of Bloom Energy’s work to co-develop fuel cell-powered ships with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), an engineless, 100 percent fuel cell-powered liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has received Approval in Principle (AiP), or basic design approval from the maritime classification society, DNV. One hundred percent fuel cell-powered means that both auxiliary needs and ship propulsion would be powered solely by fuel cells.

We’re excited to continue this momentum with these significant steps forward to accelerate the marine industry toward a more sustainable future.

Rough Waters Call for Rougher Testing

During the rigorous ABS testing period, Bloom’s fuel cells withstood over 19 hours of sustained lateral and vertical vibrations. Vibration testing shakes the equipment at resonant frequencies more severe than the actual ship would experience, ensuring structural resiliency.

We also successfully completed tilt testing, to ensure our fuel cells will operate safely at sea, and several other key tests. Similarly, tilt testing imitates a range of motions that a ship may encounter navigating rough seas. Pitch, and roll motions on the tilt platform mimic specified angles and rates to demonstrate the technology’s readiness for use on water. Tests like these ensure that power generation is uninterrupted in rough sea situations when the crew needs dependable power most.

Bloom Energy’s fuel cells also successfully passed the Factory Acceptance Test with Bureau Veritas, a testing and compliance agency. The main objective of the Factory Acceptance Test is to validate the safety of the entire system’s functionality and performance.  This represents the most comprehensive FAT test Bloom Energy has completed thus far, ensuring a safe, reliable performance onboard the cruise ship.

Following extensive testing and certification, Bloom Energy will complete the final testing phase, which is an on-water demonstration expected to begin in 2022.

Making Waves in a Centuries-Old Industry

And, that’s the easy part. Getting new technology aboard ships is not as simple as taking a vessel to a shipyard to be retrofitted. Maritime vessels are built around their power systems, meaning fuel cells must be included at the design phase. Ships being built now likely will not sail for several years.

As a result, marine fuel cells change the future of ship design. No longer encumbered by centralized engine rooms, the modularity, customization, and low-profile footprint benefits of Bloom Energy’s fuel cells give maritime vessels more flexibility in design, which can allow a more efficient hull design, expanded cargo space and enhanced resiliency.

Bloom Energy is making headway into helping shipping organizations meet emissions and efficiency regulations by moving power generation to cleaner alternative fuels, like natural gas and hydrogen. As regulations on maritime emissions become more environmentally focused, Bloom Energy’s fuel cell technology will enable vessels to meet these standards.

Bloom Energy’s innovative technology is breathing new life into a centuries-old industry and placing it squarely at the cutting edge.

#TogetherWeCan #BeTheSolution

Timothy Schweikert serves as senior advisor, market development, marine solutions for Bloom Energy where he is focused on developing fuel cell-powered ships. Prior to Bloom, Tim spent over 30 years with General Electric, holding a variety of leadership positions spanning aviation, rail transportation, and marine. Most recently, as president and CEO of GE Marine Solutions, Tim led the development and implementation of innovative solutions across the GE industrial portfolio serving commercial, off-shore, and military marine segments. Tim’s other leadership positions at GE included president and CEO of GE Sub-Sahara Africa, president and CEO of GE Transportation China and Southeast Asia, general manager of GE Global Locomotive Operations, and he began his career with GE Aviation. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Marquette University, master’s in industrial engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and graduated from the GE Manufacturing Development Program. Tim lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and two daughters.

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1. Exposed grid vulnerabilities will drive adoption of microgrids

Power outages have nearly tripled over the past decade, impacting more businesses and communities than ever before.

Just this past year, California’s major utilities shut off power to millions of people in an attempt to reduce the risk of their electric equipment sparking fires – some were without power for nearly six days. That same week in October, a record-breaking bomb cyclone hit the Northeast and knocked out power for 600,000 customers. And, in July, a mid-summer blackout in New York City caused by “a flawed connection” plunged 72,000 customers into darkness.

In fact, there have been countless high-impact utility infrastructure failures and weather-related power disruptions over the past few years alone – all of which, have illuminated a dark reality for businesses and communities across the nation.

The current grid infrastructure is aging and vulnerable; it’s no longer equipped to reliably service us anymore.

Check out our California Power Outage Map to see when and where blackouts have occurred

Because the grid relies on centralized power generation with 200,000 miles of transmission lines and 5.5 million miles of distribution lines to deliver electricity to its destinations – which, most of the time, exist far from the power source – there are immeasurable opportunities for single points of failure that can quickly cascade through the system. What’s worse, most of the nation’s power lines were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s with a 50-year life expectancy.

This outdated grid infrastructure increases the risk of sparking wildfires during dry, windy conditions, which is ultimately what led to the preemptive Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPSs) we saw in California last year.

And we’re being warned that more PSPSs are to come – “Wildfire blackouts could be California’s new normal for the next 10 to 30 years, or even longer,” senate energy committee chair Lisa Murkowski voiced in a hearing on utility and fire safety in December.

“People are rightly asking why we rely on century-old technology and a transmission network of thousands of miles of overhead electrical lines strung on wooden poles across a landscape that has become a tinderbox,” said KR Sridhar, Bloom Founder and CEO in a recent CalMatters op-ed.

“In California, we pride ourselves on technological innovation. Which is why the outdated grid frustrates so many of us.”

KR Sridhar

Founder and CEO, Bloom Energy

Beyond just California, the approach to power must evolve – and we think 2020 will be the year that microgrids rise to the top.

Because microgrids generate power onsite right where the electricity is consumed, they avoid the vulnerabilities (and costs) of the conventional transmission and distribution system. They also avoid the associated dangers of running aging power lines through high fire risk areas.

A truly 21^st century technology, microgrids flip the traditional energy paradigm – they provide primary power onsite and treat the grid as backup.

With extreme weather events on the rise, the nation’s antiquated grid infrastructure will increasingly struggle. And with more frequent and longer-lasting power outages on the horizon, businesses and communities are likely to take their energy needs into their own hands.

Peter Asmus, who studies energy generation for Navigant Research, sees a microgrid surge coming: “My sense is microgrids are going to take off,” he says.

2. Energy resilience will elevate to a C-suite and boardroom level issue

Half of CFOs are playing a larger role in energy decisions than they did five years ago, according to ENGIE’s recent “Energy in the C Suite” survey.

What’s driving this trend? Based on the events of 2019, we’re placing our bet on the same thing that’s driving a microgrid surge – the rise of massive blackouts and the stark lack of security in today’s power grid.

As outages increase, businesses are considering the “cost of not having power” instead of just the “cost of power.” Energy resilience is becoming an issue business leaders can no longer afford to neglect – both from a strategic and cost perspective.

Take California’s multi-day PSPSs. These outages knocked out power for more than 100,000 businesses in October of 2019. Hospital chains Sutter Health and Adventist Health were forced to cancel procedures and close facilities. Some Trader Joe’s and other supermarkets shuttered for days. Factories scrambled to find backup generators and fuel to remain operational.

No matter the cause, when businesses experience long-duration outages, the impacts are colossal. The price tag for one hour of downtime for large enterprises is millions of dollars. When you start considering the multi-day outages that hit last year, that number can climb to the hundreds of millions – for a single business.

As corporate financial decision-makers confront increasing power outages and their impact on business continuity, they’re forced to reconsider their energy strategies.

We agree. Power availability and quality is reaching the C-suite, no matter the industry. In a climate change era, sustainability has already cemented itself into top level business strategies – now resiliency will follow.

Energy resilience is becoming a strategic aspect of business success, in 2020 and beyond.

3. Alternative, cleaner power options for the shipping industry will continue to proliferate

In 2018, the shipping industry kicked off its decarbonization journey with an ambitious emissions strategy. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), an arm of the United Nations, stated a new mandate for all shipbuilders to cut their emissions 50 percent, compared to 2008 levels, by 2050 – provoking important discussions and inspiring some preliminary action (e.g. shipping giant Maersk’s net-zero emission target).

A recent report highlighted that the transition won’t be easy, or cheap. It estimates a $1 trillion price tag on cutting ship carbon emissions to meet the IMO target.

January 1, 2020 marked the first day that new IMO regulation, Sulfur 2020, took effect. The regulation substantially limits the amount of sulfur permitted in marine fuel, from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent. This landmark limit has immense implications for the industry – it means ships can no longer burn heavy fuel oil or bunker fuel, which currently account for 80 percent of the world’s shipping fleet fuel supply.

According to the IMO, combustion of heavy fuel oil not only harms the environment by leading to acid rain and ocean acidification, it also significantly harms human health by causing respiratory symptoms and lung disease. In fact, it’s estimated that if the 2020 sulfur limit wasn’t implemented, air pollution from ships would contribute to more than 570,000 additional premature deaths over the next five years.

As the industry’s emissions and fuel requirements evolve, so must its energy strategy. There are a multitude of options for shipping companies, each of which has its own unique set of advantages and challenges. Some approaches include switching to low sulfur (but expensive) fuels, installing scrubbers to remove sulfur oxide (SOx) from emissions as a mid-term measure, and making a long-term switch to LNG as fuel.

Regardless of the specific path forward, one thing is clear – the IMO’s uncompromising stance demands action from the industry.

And indeed, some action has already begun. Take Bloom’s recent collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) as an example. By combining Bloom’s proven, clean power generation on land and SHI’s shipbuilding prowess, we aim to deliver an ocean-going ship powered by fuel cells running on natural gas. This will not only play a key role in helping SHI exceed the IMO’s carbon emissions mandate, but also will help limit air pollutants, such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides, and achieve energy efficiency improvement targets.

Similar to the Bloom-SHI collaboration, we predict there will be a proliferation of innovative technologies and partnerships in 2020 to help shipbuilders make strides on sustainability goals and IMO mandates.

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Because the industry connects the globe, it’s in a unique position to make global change – in particular, global climate change.

It’s estimated that shipping emits around 949 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, or about 2.2 percent of global carbon emissions. That places the industry amongst the largest emitters – just below the world’s five highest-emitting countries. Further, it’s predicted that emissions from shipping could grow between 50 and 250 percent by 2050 if no action is taken.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), is the global standard-setting authority of international shipping, and the good news is, it has taken significant steps to regulate the industry.

In April 2018, the 173 Member States of the UN’s IMO agreed to cut emissions generated from shipping to 50 percent below 2008 levels by 2050 and to cut emissions from individual ships by 40 percent from 2008 levels by 2030.

One of the world’s leading shipbuilders is already taking steps to meet these goals – in September 2019, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) announced it is working with Bloom Energy to build ships powered by solid oxide fuel cell technology instead of oil. The company believes that replacing oil-based power generation on its large cargo ships could reduce GHG emissions by 45 percent over the course of a year.

The Bloom Energy-SHI collaboration represents an important shift in the industry’s approach to energy and emissions.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Marine Transport

Reducing GHG emissions is just one of three environmental impact areas the industry is focusing on. Through an energy efficiency measure known as the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), IMO is working towards achieving 30 percent more energy efficient new ships by 2025 compared to those built in 2014.

Reducing air pollutants from international shipping, particularly sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, is also part of the shipping industry’s efforts. A 2018 study found that health impacts due to pollution from shipping include 14 million cases of childhood asthma annually and 400,000 premature deaths a year from lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Leading shipping companies are seeking ways to reduce these combustion-related emissions and contribute to healthier global air quality.

A New Solution: Powering Ships With Fuel Cells

Today, 80 percent of the world’s shipping fleet runs on a particularly dirty type of fuel called heavy fuel oil, or bunker fuel. When this fuel burns, it emits GHGs such as carbon dioxide and methane, trapping heat in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming.

Now, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders is excited about the potential of replacing the combustion of bunker fuel with solid oxide fuel cell technology running on natural gas, a cleaner fuel that is already beginning to gain traction in the shipping industry.

In contrast to bunker fuel combustion, Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cells generate electric power through an electrochemical reaction, producing virtually no smog-forming emissions.

This collaboration is expected to benefit all three environmental impact areas the shipping industry is focusing on today; Bloom’s technology converts fuel into electricity at the highest efficiency of any power solution available in the world today, it significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, and it produces virtually no criteria air pollutants.

Onboard fuel cells can be powered by natural gas, converted from liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is already commonly transported by marine shipping worldwide. Additionally, given our recent announcement of our fuel cells’ capability to run on hydrogen, and as nations and ports further develop their hydrogen infrastructure, fuel cell-powered ships could transition from natural gas fuel to hydrogen fuel and become zero-carbon and zero-smog emitters.

Notably, the modularity and power density of Bloom Energy Servers makes them well-suited for ships given the space constraints. SHI envisions Bloom Energy Servers displacing power generation sets, and therefore requiring no additional space or even reducing the total space required for power generation.

Bloom’s technology has been deployed hundreds of times on land for commercial and industrial customers, including 25 of the Fortune 100 companies. And for the first time, these fuel cells are being factored into the design of new ships. The initial design has received Approval in Principle from DNV GL, the internationally accredited marine shipping registrar and classification society.

Collaborating for a Cleaner Global Future

The global shipping industry today has more than 126,000 ships using over 600 GW of power, which is equivalent to more than 250,000 utility-scale wind turbines or nearly two billion photovoltaic (PV) panels. Further it is estimated that around 2,000 to 2,500 ships annually will be added to the global fleet over the next five years.

The LNG ecosystem, which would be utilized by fuel cell-powered ships, is maturing with regulations and technical rules for safe operation. Although LNG refueling infrastructure and the global LNG-powered ship fleet are still developing, they make up one of the fastest growing segments in the market. According to DNV GL, 400 to 600 LNG-powered ships are expected to be delivered by 2020.

Today, Bloom installation sizes average below 5 MW. With each individual ship drawing 20 MW of power or more, the market opportunity, and the potential to reduce emissions from global shipping, are both very substantial.

Above all, our collaboration with SHI extends both companies’ vision of creating a cleaner global environment. Fuel-cell powered ships will help SHI exceed the IMO’s emissions reduction goals and will enable Bloom to bring its transformative technology to another sector of the global economy, helping to accelerate the world’s path to zero emissions.

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