R&D  Navalprogetti

> TransH2

Interreg Italy-Croatia, EU co-funded project

Duration: Feb. 2024 – Jul. 2026

The project aims to improve sustainable cross-border maritime mobility by demonstrating feasible solutions for the application of emission-free fuels (green hydrogen) in cross-border and regional maritime routes and transferring new solutions to port authorities, carriers, and other stakeholders throughout the program area (Croatia and Italy).

Navalprogetti will design 2 use-cases (one for cross border connections and one for regional connections) to demonstrate the applicability of innovative solutions in sea-mobility: the design will be based on transport model that will define the optimal routes, ship’s type and dimensions in order to identify the most convenient technical solution to be developed.

Duration: Jun. 2022 – Jun. 2026

Navalprogetti, as the lead partner of the project, has been working as sole marine partner in the project and has laid the foundation for the detail engineering that is being carried out by the shipyard based on Navalprogetti basic design.

The project will develop a novel hydrogen storage intermodal 45′ ISO c-type container, the complete detailed design of modular containerised powertrain based on optimised PEM Fuel Cells and their dedicated logistics. The project will use the window of opportunity of a Viking Cruises’ newbuilds vessel to install the storage system onboard with the complete gas handling and energy management system. The power train (3 tons LH2 tank + 375 kW PEMFC) will be initially tested on land and then onboard. The project, thanks to its modular size, will enable the development of a system capable of sustaining a total power generation of 6 MW based on 16 fuel cell modules split in 2 containers (3 MW + 3 MW). Navalprogetti is responsible for the development and integration of the fuel system and its auxiliaries (ventilation, vent, inert, etc.). Lloyd’s Register is part of the consortium to guarantee the compliance with safety requirements and the correct application of alternative design approach in the absence of official hydrogen rules and regulations for the maritime sector.

Navalprogetti has secured patents on the core and essential elements of the system.

> The GASVESSEL Project

The GASVESSEL project provides a novel, efficient and flexible method for transporting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

It introduces an innovative solution for manufacturing pressure cylinders that are 70% lighter than state-of-the-art alternatives. These superlight pressure cylinders enable new ship designs with much higher payloads and dramatically lower transportation costs per volume of gas. Where the exploitation of stranded, associated and flared gas is currently economically not viable, GASVESSEL brings a solution. As a cost-efficient and flexible CNG transport system that can unlock energy resources and decrease Europe’s dependence on a single supplier.

The GASVESSEL project focuses on:

• Development and piloting of the lightweight pressure cylinders;
• Finalizing the ship design based on the new pressure cylinders and including a gas on/off loading system;
• Establishing proof-of-concept through a cost-benefit analysis, environmental evaluation and safety classification.

Where and how can the GASVESSEL concept provide added value? Three geo-logistic gas exploitation scenarios will be analysed:

• East Mediterranean gas fields – enable supply of remote areas such as the Greek and Italian islands and Cyprus;
• Black Sea region – flexible solution for early start-up of gas exploitation, before the planned pipeline will be finished;
• Barents Sea offshore oil field – exploit gas associated to oil winning.

Navalprogetti is the lead partner of RESHIP, a European co-funded Project, included in POR FESR 2014-2020 context.

In order to deal with IMO guidelines, which impose severe limits to ship emissions, Navalprogetti wants to give its contribution to the reduction of carbon footprint, choosing the alternative fuels route. Based on ship market and energy analyses, liquid hydrogen (obtained from renewable energy) was identified as the most suitable option to reach zero global emissions. Navalprogetti is at the same time developing:

• an energy generation system, in collaboration with the University of Trieste – Power Engineering Department, based on the use of PEM-FC, available to be installed on board;
• and a hydrogen propelled ship design, a double ended ferry, following safety and security requirements.

All research and design activities had been followed by Lloyd’s Register specialists, in order to obtain the Approval in Principle and the certification for the Project.

> ACTIVE

New solutions for energy saving
and hull optimisation. Alternative fuel propulsion.

Navalprogetti Srl is the Lead Partner of the ACTIVE project
(AIR CAVITY TECHNOLOGY FOR INLAND VESSELS)
which, as a research and development project in the field of Maritime Technology, is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

The objective of the ACTIVE project, launched in 2017, is to define a new type of inland waterway vessels characterised by low investment and running costs in order to relaunch the inland navigation.

Navalprogetti has designed and studied an innovative class Va hull (110m, 11.4m and 2.8m) for containers/coils transportation. In order to increase performance in navigation, the AIR-CAVITY system has been realized: in a structural recess obtained on the bottom of the ship, an air cushion is kept stable by means of blowers, thus reducing the wetted surface of the hull. The system significantly reduces the resistance (up to 20%) and consequently the installed power.

The use of liquid natural gas (LNG) or compressed gaseous gas (CNG) as fuel reduces costs and emissions.