Hypermotive, EP Barrus and HPi-CEproof make waves in the zero-emissions leisure marine sector

MIA Business Excellence ‘New Markets’ award winners are making waves in the marine sector!

Responding to the UK’s 2019 Clean Maritime Plan (CMP), Hypermotive are leading a consortium including EP Barrus and HPi-CEproof to develop a fuel cell battery hybrid powerplant for light marine vessels. Supported by recently awarded grant funding from the Niche Vehicle Network (NVN), this proof of concept programme builds on a previous successful technical and commercial feasibility study.

Adam Huckstep, Hypermotive: “This exciting collaboration on the development of a hybrid fuel cell powerplant is a direct result of connections made through the Motorsport to Marine initiative lead by the MIA and British Marine. Lead partners Hypermotive and Barrus were brought together at the MIA and British Marine networking events, with Hypermotive gaining invaluable marine sector knowledge through the MIA/BM organised trade shows, conferences and networking. Hypermotive would like to thank the MIA for catalysing this consortium, helping Hypermotive to get ‘on-board’ in the marine sector!”

The 2019 Clean Maritime Plan sets out the aim that by 2050 all vessels in UK waters must be zero-emissions. Fuel cell and battery integration specialists, Hypermotive, have joined forces with the UKs largest marine engine supplier, Barrus, to develop a hydrogen-powered zero-emissions powerplant to support the move towards zero emissions for the inland waterways market. Barrus already supply over 30% of the UKs inland waterways powerplants so are uniquely placed to understand the needs of the industry. Project partner HPi-CEproof, the UK’s only notified body licensed to certify small marine craft for the European market, will help ensure that the project meets the developing standards for marine electrification. The project will be overseen by a steering committee of industrial stakeholders including BoC Linde (hydrogen gas), Beacon Park Boats and Mothership Marine

Adam Huckstep, Managing Director at Hypermotive, “Hypermotive are really pleased to be collaborating with EP Barrus and HPi-CEproof on this project. Our previous feasibility study work has shown a good technical fit between the proposed fuel cell battery hybrid powerplant and the marine duty cycle, and operationally the inland marine industry is already familiar with gaseous fuels. We firmly believe fuel cells will play an important role in decarbonising our waterways.”

Tara Glen, Director at EP Barrus, “Barrus have been involved with low-emission marine powerplants for a while, in the form of diesel-electric hybrid systems and pure electric. Barrus has always been at the forefront of bringing new ideas to the marine industry. A fortuitous meeting with Hypermotive at an British Marine/MIA gathering, led to our ideas becoming this project. We are delighted to partner with Hypermotive who have expertise in fuel cells from other sectors and HPi-CEproof, with whom we have worked many times with respect to marine certification. We could not have two stronger partners for this project”.

Alasdair Reay, Managing Director at HPi-CEproof, “Many industries are increasingly adopting hydrogen as the fuel of the future and, with this project, the boating industry is doing the same. One of the perceived impediments to the industry adopting hydrogen is that the gas is not currently addressed in any boating standards and so there is no explicit compliance path to follow. HPi-CEproof, however, has formal accreditations to certify both boats and pressure equipment and using our knowledge from these areas, we look forward to ensuring the product that the project will realise, is compliant with the requirements of both the UK and EU markets.”

For more information on the project and the partners involved please visit Hypermotive's website here.