EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, the fuel cell joint venture between ElringKlinger and Plastic Omnium, announces an order for the supply of fuel cell stacks for a cruise ship.

The order from an unnamed international cruise company involves the delivery of NM12 single fuel cell stacks for an initial cruise ship operated by a global shipping company and is initially worth a single-digit million euro sum. Delivery of the stacks started in Q1 2023.

According to the statement, EKPO will be supplying NM12 Single stacks for the cruise ship’s propulsion system. The NM12 Single PEMFC stack module is available with 359 cells, and can achieve an output of up to 123 kW at 2.5 bara operating pressure.

“The agreement has tremendous potential for the future and confirms our commitment to help shape the development of sustainable and eco-friendly shipping with our fuel cell stacks,” said Dr. Gernot Stellberger, Managing Director of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, adding: “In addition, the order clearly illustrates that our fuel cell stacks are suitable for a wide range of applications – on the road in buses, commercial vehicles and passenger cars, and beyond the road in industrial settings, on railways and especially for maritime usage.”

This is not EKPO’s first foray into marine propulsion systems either, as last August Watertaxi Rotterdam also launched its first hydrogen boat with EKPO fuel cell technology.