The green experimental ship ZEUS (Zero Emission Ultimate Ship), powered by fuel cell and the first of its kind in the world, will be completed within 2021. The ship will be built within the Low Environmental Impact Technologies Project (TecBIA) and co-financed by the Ministry of Economic Development.
Research also aims at the environmental sustainability of cruise ships
The research by Fincantieri concerns the improvement of the environmental sustainability of cruise ships, mega-yachts, ferries and oceanographic research ships, through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and particulate matter.
Zeus: a floating laboratory
With a length of about 25 meters and a tonnage of about 170 tons, Zeus will be a floating laboratory, aimed at studying the behavior of fuel cells, an electrochemical device that allows to obtain electricity directly from hydrogen without thermal combustion. Zeus will be equipped with a hybrid apparatus to be used as a conventional propulsion system. There will be a 130 kilowatt fuel cell plant, powered by about 50 kilograms of hydrogen stored in the form of metal hydrides, and a battery system, which will allow an autonomy of about 8 hours of navigation with zero emissions.
Partners include members of the Italy IORA Committee
Various partners of the Fincantieri group participate in the project, including the plants of Castellammare di Stabia and Palermo, Fincantieri SI, Seastema, Cetena and Isotta Fraschini Motori. Members of the Italy-IORA Committee such as CNR, the Universities of Genoa, Palermo and Naples, ENR and RINA also contributed to the project as consultants.
Sara Caspani