Self-contained mobile hydrogen generation systems designed for marine environments are said to be an industry-first, incorporating ground-breaking technology and creating a commercial path to clean, diesel-free shipboard power.

With the ability to generate hydrogen onboard and on demand, the systems offer users a safer and smaller shipboard volume requirement as compared to high-pressure compressed hydrogen solutions. The M2H2-Series from RIX Industries aims to eliminate the heavy and costly footprint of cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage. The power systems are described as highly efficient, providing marine shipbuilders and operators a readily available path away from environment-damaging diesel-based propulsion systems.

The environment-friendly systems offer clean, scalable hydrogen power for maritime applications and are seen as an important step in addressing the global challenge facing the shipping industry, now required to meet immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and eventual elimination of diesel power as mandated by the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations regulatory entity. The M2H2 systems, combined with fuel cells, produce power without any NOx, SOx, or particulate matter and net zero CO₂ emissions with renewable methanol. The M2H2-Series systems are available from Kirton Mechanical Equipment, authorised suppliers of RIX Industries equipment in South Africa.

 “While hydrogen power technology is globally recognized as critical to reducing pollution and climate change, rugged readymade systems that capitalize on this technology have been absent from the power landscape,” said RIX Industries chief sales officer Bryan Reid. “Tapping into the convenience of methanol as a hydrogen carrier, our industry-leading mobile system produces hydrogen safely, efficiently, and as needed – a sea change in hydrogen usability and competitive value for shipbuilders working to minimize their environmental impact.”

RIX M2H2-Series systems incorporate proven methanol fuel reforming technology to generate hydrogen. This technology is licensed from Element 1 (dba e1), developer of clean energy products, processes and technologies and is supported by the company’s manufacturing operations and integration services. The self-contained containerised power systems blend methanol-to-hydrogen generation technology and PEM fuel cells to provide a high efficiency, minimal vibration, minimal noise and low emission solution for power critical applications including ship propulsion, auxiliary power systems, reefer container power, and cold ironing.

Scalability is said to be another advantage of the M2H2 power system, supporting 30 kW to 120 kW fuel cell solutions, which can also be combined to support MW applications. Deployment does not require major retrofit of ship infrastructure and existing diesel tanks can be used to store liquid methanol at ambient conditions, as a feedstock. This aims to eliminate the complexities and concerns of onboard hydrogen management, such as storage at high pressures or cryogenic temperatures, which have been regarded as impediments for marine industries.