For Sustainable Yachting

With over 10,000 ships worldwide, the yacht industry is a significant part of the maritime economy. Its customers value innovations, new technologies and environmental protection. After all, yachts are often near residential coasts, where factors such as emissions of any kind are delicate issues. Just as in larger ships that prioritize range and route flexibility, electricity must be ruled out as an energy source due to the heavy weight and low volumetric energy density of battery systems. For these ocean-going vessels, fuel cell propulsion is a superior choice.

This is why Lürssen and Freudenberg have defined a joint technology roadmap for yachts without combustion engines. The two companies are already collaborating on the “Pa-X-ell 2” project, in which other partners such as Carnival Maritime, DNV, besecke, DLR, EPEA and Meyer Werft are pushing ahead with the development and testing of a hybrid energy system with a new generation of fuel cells for yachts and passenger ships suitable for the high seas.

“Our strategic cooperation with Lürssen is another milestone in our fuel cell strategy. This is how we are making a significant contribution to sustainability in the maritime sector,” says Claus Möhlenkamp, CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. “Our partners in the heavy-duty sector appreciate our strategic focus on fuel cell systems with high durability and efficiency.

“Our technical expertise, combined with high value creation, especially on a cell level, is a convincing asset,” Möhlenkamp adds. “Following the collaboration with Meyer Werft in the cruise sector, our cooperation with Lürssen is proving that our technology is generally transferable to all maritime sub-segments.”

The partnership also brings important opportunities to Lürssen. “Our cooperation with Freudenberg brings us a big step closer to our goal: an emissions-neutral Lürssen yacht,” explains the shipyard owner, Peter Lürssen. “We look forward to working with Freudenberg, the technology leader in maritime fuel cell systems.”

Maritime Fuel Cell System Based on Methanol

The fuel cells, which have been uniquely developed for maritime applications, will temporarily substitute the ship’s conventional diesel generators in the first joint ship installation. This allows the yacht to anchor for 15 days or cruise 1,000 miles without emissions – an important added value for the ship owner.