Having been in the making for just over three years, BeHydro has now launched its first hydrogen-powered dual-fuel engine with a capacity of 1 megawatt (MW).
In August last year that the plans for the commercial launch of the engine was shaping up and could be expected in 2020.
Over the past three years BeHydro has developed, produced and extensively tested a dual-fuel (diesel-hydrogen) engine with a capacity of 1 MW. Based on this technology, larger engines of up to 10 MW can also be produced.
This would allow BeHydro to provide solutions for a wide range of industrial applications, from ships to trains and power generators. Owing to the dual-fuel technology, the engine can also continue to supply power, even if no renewable energy or hydrogen is available.
Proclaiming that ‘the hydrogen future starts today’ BeHydro – a joint venture between Belgian multi-fuel medium speed engine builder ABC and Belgian shipping giant Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) – has now officially launched the engines and is looking forward to the future benefits of a hydrogen-fuelled future.
By injecting and burning hydrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are reduced by up to 85% with these engines. “This revolutionary development can lead to a massive greening of ships, trains and electricity generators,” the company said in a statement.
BeHydro has already received its first order for 2 x 2 MW dual-fuel engines that will be installed on-board the HydroTug, the first hydrogen tugbout. The vessel is reportedly the very first hydrogen tugboat in the world, and will be deployed by the Port of Antwerp.
With the launch of the new engines, BeHydro explained that in a first phase of production, up to 100 hydrogen-powered engines can be produced per year. In addition, BeHydro is developing a mono-fuel hydrogen engine that will be ready by the second quarter of 2021.
