IMOCA OceansLab - Cleantech Accelerator Hydrogen yacht ©PuraVida Images

HYDROGEN INNOVATIONS

Zero emission plug & play Hydrogen Power Modules for vessels

The OceansLab innovation developed by cleantech spin-off company Genevos is a multi-award-winning drop-in marine fuel cell that revolutionises maritime power by offering an environmentally friendly solution with high scalability and redundancy.

Genevos Innovation Awards 2023
Shipping sector

CLEAN HYDROGEN POWER

Green hydrogen, and hydrogen-based fuels are a vital part of the energy mix to decarbonise our marine sector that is currently responsible for 3% of global emissions and 15% of NOx emissions. 

OceansLab are advancing and demonstrating modular hydrogen solutions that can provide a scalable application to commercial and recreational vessels, including ferries, service vessels, motor yachts, short-sea cargo vessels and cruise ships.

To replace diesel engines on vessels with modular, plug-and-play fuel cell solutions

Integrating safe, practical compressed hydrogen storage solutions for maritime applications that can be integrated into new or existing vessel designs

Credit Joka Gemesi / Pauger Composites

CIRCULAR PERFORMANCE MATERIALS

Composite materials play a crucial role in reducing weight and energy consumption for transport applications. However, high performance composite materials such as carbon fibre and thermoset epoxy have a high energy footprint to create, and very challenging recyclability.

OceansLab is trialling and demonstrating high performance recyclable material innovations for the marine sector including:

A high-performance epoxy resin technology that can be chemically dissociated at end of life to separate fibre and resin, enabling them to be reused in subsequent, high performance life cycles.

The energy associated with producing virgin carbon fibre is significant, therefore by developing and trialing a high performance recycled carbon fibre we can demonstrate a practical low carbon solution.

Basalt is a fully cradle-to-cradle, high performance fibre that enables recyclability without loss of performance.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

OceansLab collaborates with research universities as a project lead for undergraduate and masters programmes

Fluid simulation of fuel cell pack

  • Status:  COMPLETED
  • Objective: Concept design and air simulation for fuel cell enclosure to ensure adequate ventilation
  • Duration:  3 Months, Sep-Dec 2019
  • Students:  4 x Mech Eng MASTERS students
  • Academic Supervisor:  Nicolas Oliver
  • Industrial Supervisor: Phil Sharp
  • OceansLab Contribution:  Enclosure design optimised for ventilation, air-integrity and safety

Ammonia and hydrogen for fuel cell powered shipping

  • Status:  Complete, view results
  • Objective: System-level comparison of ammonia, compressed and liquid hydrogen as fuels for polymer electrolyte fuel cell powered shipping
  • Duration:  12 Months, Jan-Dec 2021
  • Students:  1 x Masters student
  • Academic Supervisor:  Prof Nigel Brandon
  • Industrial Supervisor: Phil Sharp

HFC feasibility and market study

  • Status:  UNDERWAY
  • Objective:  Hydrogen fuel cell market research and review
  • Duration:  9 Months, Jan-Jul 2020
  • Students:  7 x Engineering Yr3 students
  • Tutor:  Vincent Felix
  • Industrial Supervisor: Phil Sharp
Imperial College London
Hydrogen

WHY HYDROGEN?

  • Green h2 can be produced from renewables

  • Carbon-free, clean, lighter than air, odourless & non-toxic

  • Proven & safe to produce, store & transport

  • An important solution to decarbonise the maritime sector

Phil Sharp and OceansLab - Cleantech Accelerator Credit Mark Lloyd

MARINISED SOLAR PV

Performance monitoring & safety management

  • Active power monitoring of multiple modules

  • Daily solar energy absorption

  • Module efficiency and functionality

  • Improve safety and confidences

  • Enhanced low-light performance

  • Low weight