HD Hyundai announced the development of fuel cell technology for cruise ships in line with the global decarbonization trend.
HD Hyundai recently stated that its affiliates—HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Europe Research & Development Center, and HD Hydrogen— recently signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) agreement with DNV, a leading global classification society, and TUI Cruises, one of Germany’s leading cruise operators. The project aims to explore the application of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems on cruise vessels.
SOFC is a high-efficiency fuel cell that generates electricity by reacting hydrogen—extracted from sources such as natural gas or ammonia—with oxygen. Since it produces electricity without combustion, it significantly reduces carbon and pollutant emissions. Compared to conventional engine-based power generation systems, SOFC offers superior efficiency, achieving both environmental sustainability and economic viability. It produces a low level of noise and vibration while providing high power generation efficiency, making it especially suitable for cruise ships that require large amounts of electricity.
HD Hyundai plans to secure global competitiveness by developing SOFC technology applicable to cruise ships, with a focus on the European market—where environmental regulations are stringent and demand for such vessels is high. (....)