A team from TU Delft has embarked on the first hydrogen boat trip to England, a first for the North Sea. With their self-designed vessel, they are braving unpredictable waves, driven by the potential of clean fuel for shipping. After technical setbacks and changeable weather, the students are ready to cover the 160 kilometers in about eight hours. This crossing represents a milestone in maritime engineering and could accelerate a sustainable revolution in the industry.
A historic journey
Early Thursday morning began the historic journey of the hydrogen boat of TU Delft’s Hydro Motion Team. Started from Breskens, bound for Ramsgate, the voyage demonstrates the potential of hydrogen as a fuel at sea[1]. The initial attempt was stranded earlier in the week due to technical problems and bad weather. But after a quick repair and a clear weather forecast for Thursday, the two students were still able to set sail.
This first is not only an engineering feat but also a signal to the shipping industry. The voyage shows that hydrogen can be a viable and clean source of energy for the future. The student team, composed largely of maritime engineering students, expects to make a powerful statement with the approximately 160-kilometer journey.
Innovation on the high seas
The hydrogen boat’s design is a model of innovation and efficiency. With three propellers located high in the water, the boat requires less fuel to reach the desired speed[1]. This unique design is not only an engineering achievement but also a testament to the potential of hydrogen for cleaner shipping.
The boat runs on only 25 kilograms of hydrogen, which is stored in a specially designed tank in the middle section of the hull. This is enough to complete the long trip to England. The project by TU Delft’s 23 students began in July of the previous year and aims to encourage the shipping industry to embrace renewable energy sources.
Successful past, hopeful future
This hydrogen boat is not the Hydro Motion Team’s first success. In 2023, they won the world championship title in the Monaco Open Sea class with their previous hydrogen boat. This experience, combined with an extensive network of contacts ranging from component manufacturers to maritime companies, allows the team to continue to push boundaries.
The team emphasizes the reality of hydrogen as a future energy source. With the crossing, they want to show that hydrogen is a realistic option for shipping. Drivers are changed every two hours, making the long and challenging journey achievable. With this achievement, the team hopes to show the maritime world that hydrogen energy technology exists and is ready for use.
“In a way, we are kind of like experimental animals. It is financially difficult for established companies to allocate all their budgets to innovation, but through our experience they can see and learn what it means to work with a new technology,” exposure coordinator on the team Jeroen von Berg previously told IO.
Technological breakthrough in action
The hydrogen boat is the product of 18 years of effort and development by the Hydro Motion Team, formerly known as the TU Delft Solar Boat Team. The new hydrogen boat was built in a shipyard in the north of the Netherlands, and the first hydrogen-powered barges are already being built in Rotterdam.
The project is not only a demonstration of Dutch engineering skills, but also an opportunity for the established maritime industry to learn how to work with new technologies. The hope is that this trip will prove that hydrogen is a viable energy source for the future of shipping.
A successful crossing
The TU Delft students reached their destination in Ramsgate late Thursday evening after a 12.5-hour trip. Although the journey took slightly longer than initially expected, it is the first time a hydrogen-powered boat has successfully crossed the North Sea. This is a crucial step toward renewable energy and a testament to the technological advances the students have achieved.
With the successful crossing, the students have not only achieved a technical milestone, but also set an inspiring example for the rest of the world. TU Delft’s hydrogen boat ride symbolizes innovation, sustainability and the unprecedented potential of hydrogen as the fuel of the future.
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