Hydrogen ships land on the Seine.
Like all modes of transport, maritime and river transport are on the way to decarbonization by 2050. Thanks to the European Flagships programme, a cooperative financed by the European Union for the technological development of different sources of propulsion, two projects ships powered by hydrogen fuel cells are in preparation.
One in Stavanger, Norway, a ferry for passengers and cars, and the other led by Sogestran Group, a French, independent and family group, listed in the Top 5 river carriers in Europe.
Named Zulu 6, his ship will serve Paris by June 2022.
Read alsoMaritime transport rides the wave of hydrogen
Shipowner and owner of 40 seagoing vessels and 160 river boats, Sogestran Group, whose head office is in Le Havre, has 1,000 employees and around 300 million euros in turnover.
Its activities are multiple: refueling in seaports, such as for the Army or Ariane Group with the transport of its rockets to Guyana, the transport of dangerous materials on the rivers of Europe, the transport of containers, their cleaning and repairs, but also deliveries by water from platforms, as close as possible to urban centers .
In terms of urban logistics, the company has been pursuing a three-pillar decarbonization policy for several years: "First of all, over long distances, between Le Havre and Paris, our battle consists in reducing CO2, with the use of cleaner fuels such as BioLNG, Biomethanol or Greenamonia.
For six months, we also tested Saipol's EP100, rapeseed-based fuel, and soon HVO, a synthetic diesel,” explains Matthieu Blanc, director of river activity at Sogestran Group.
“In urban areas, our objective is zero emissions, zero discharge”
Matthieu Blanc, director of river activities at Sogestran Group
A study has also been carried out for eleven years, with the installation of hundreds of sensors on boats, pushers and barges which have made it possible to collect "millions and millions of data".
“We now know that our units spend 40% of their time at the edge of a quay.
This is why we are campaigning for the electrical connection to the VNF terminals.
It's 15% less diesel consumption and therefore less pollution,” estimates Matthieu Blanc.
It is still with this in mind that the group embarked on the construction of the Zulu 6 on behalf of the group's Blue Line Logistics subsidiary, which mainly delivers to Paris from the port of Gennevilliers.
“In urban areas, our objective is zero emissions, zero discharge.
This is thought to happen through two means: the battery and green hydrogen.
This is why we joined the Flagships program.
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Read alsoSoon greener boats on the Seine
By launching its project launched five years ago, Sogestran Group has chosen to start from the basis of a pusher 50 meters long and 8 meters wide, “the equivalent of twenty heavy goods vehicles or two hundred vans ".
The Zulu 6 will have a forward cockpit, a flat deck with a self-unloading crane and, aft, two containers.
One to contain the fuel cell and the other the green hydrogen tank at 350 bars for 400 kilos.
“We learned that you shouldn't put hydrogen in the engine room,” says Matthieu Blanc.
In terms of planning, the barge built by a subsidiary of Piriou shipyards in Romania will reach Le Havre in the first half of March.
It will then be equipped with its hydrogen machinery “before the first tests are launched in June”.
“We should inaugurate it in September, promises Matthieu Blanc.
Zulu 6 will then work like the other units.
He will be able to travel the 30 kilometers in three hours and deliver the various sites before the parcels leave on cargo bikes or scooters in Paris.
With a total price of 4 million euros, massively financed by the EU, its daily operating cost compared to a ship running on fossil fuel will be "+ 30% for the moment".
“Green hydrogen is around ten euros per kilo whereas it should be close to two euros per kilo.
Why are we doing this then?
Because we firmly believe in urban distribution and the strengthening of laws on the presence of trucks and vans in Paris.
Zulu 1,2 and 4 already work very well in Belgium.
It's not a weirdo thing.
We are in the Top 5 river carriers and we must be visionary and exemplary.
We will do our job!
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