A new type of propulsion system for boats could make marine travel much greener and coastlines will

Italian and German researchers of the European Research Project MC-WAP have replaced the diesel engines with a propulsion system based on molten carbonate fuel cells. The MC WAP project has developed a molten carbon fuel cell which uses hydrogen obtained from a system that converts diesel oil into a hydrogen-rich gas, and air coming from the compressor of a microturbine. The reaction produces electricity and heat, without combustion. Their challenge: to adapt the fuel cell technology for marine applications.

Marco Schembri of the Italian Ship Research Center CETENA has coordinated the research project and is convinced that fuel cells will be the future of marine combustion engines. “Fuel cell technology will improve passenger comfort and have many environmental advantages as wel....