The Brittany Region has made a significant commitment by providing a subsidy of €1.5 million (approximately $1.6 million) to Green Navy to support the development of their innovative hydrogen-powered catamaran project, known as PROMETEO.
This groundbreaking zero-emission passenger shuttle will operate in La Forêt-Fouesnant, located in the beautiful Brittany region of France. At this stage, the project is in its early production phase, with the concept design already in hand.
Equipped with state-of-the-art electric propulsion and hydrogen storage tanks, the catamaran will be available as a bare-boat charter solution. Additionally, it holds potential for sale to shipowners or public entities responsible for inter-island transport or urban bay crossings, as well as for leisure boating activities.
The electric motors will rely on buffer storage batteries for energy, while the onboard hydrogen will act as a supplementary energy source, boasting a higher capacity than the batteries alone. By combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air within the two fuel cells, the system will generate electricity and recharge the batteries efficiently.
This project has received funding because it aligns perfectly with the regional strategy for advancing renewable hydrogen technologies.
“PROMETEO addresses three of the goals set forth in the Brittany roadmap,” shared Green Navy’s CEO, Charles Cardi. He emphasized the importance of decarbonizing maritime transport, fostering economic sectors tied to the energy transition, and developing mobility solutions that effectively tackle climate change.
Cardi further noted, “[Our] innovative setup allows Green Navy to introduce a maritime transport solution that emits no CO2 during operation, functions silently, and is free from any unpleasant odors or vibrations, all while providing an extended range and shorter docking times.”
“We will test the vessel in real-world conditions, overseeing every phase of the project in collaboration with our partners, including design, engineering, production, and testing, all the way to certification,” Cardi added.
He also mentioned, “This systematic approach will deliver precise and consolidated feedback that will be invaluable for many other hydrogen project developers in Brittany’s growing sector.”
Last year, Umoe Mandal and TECO 2030 secured preliminary approval for the design of a high-speed hydrogen fuel cell-powered catamaran, featuring a multi-megawatt fuel cell system. However, there have been no updates on this project since last February.
Read more: Norwegian ‘multi-megawatt’ hydrogen-powered vessel design approved
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