Fuel Cell Tender

The Cornwall Marine Hydrogen Centre (CMHC) will offer independent expertise and testing facilities for hydrogen fuel cell electric propulsion systems for marine vessels. It will specialise in equipment and systems for leisure and commercial vessels up to 18m in length. This market, which is estimated to be over 30 million vessels worldwide, is currently powered mostly by diesel, and will need to be replaced by clean propulsion systems to meet Net Zero goals.

Part-funded by an ERDF research grant, the CMHC will be based at the University of Exeter's Renewable Energy faculty in Cornwall. Individual components or whole hydrogen propulsion systems will be tested and monitored in a purpose-built facility, providing technology providers with independent validation and accelerated product development.

The delivery partners provide a unique blend of world-class Renewable Energy and Marine Engineering expertise. Pure Energy Professionals (PEP) has a 30-year track record of working with manufacturers and investors in renewable energy and has been at the forefront of new technology adoption. The University of Exeter is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities, and is in the top ten for renewable energy.

The current focus of the CMHC is to build the test rig, with a demonstration hydrogen electric propulsion system, using commercially available components. The central component of this demonstration system is the fuel cell, which is the item to be procured in this tender. The purchase, build and commissioning of the test rig and demonstration system must be completed by the end of 2022.