For the past 18 months, the EU project SYNERGETICS – Synergies for Green Transformation of Inland and Coastal Shipping – has been in full swing. Argo-Anleg is one of the key players in the project and is pleased to report significant progress towards a sustainable future for shipping.
Outstanding Progress in the Development of Green Technologies
The project, which started in February 2023 at the DST Development Center for Ship Technology and Transport Systems in Duisburg, aims to connect the best research institutions in ship hydrodynamics and energy transition with innovation centers and industry associations. A particular focus is on developing a comprehensive catalog of retrofit solutions to accelerate the green transformation of inland and coastal ships. Significant milestones were presented at the General Assembly in Gothenburg in mid-June. Project partner MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) conducted workshops that formed the basis for the analysis of ship propulsion and energy concepts (SPEC). Notably, the successful testing of the new stern design of the demonstrator “Ernst Kramer” in the DST towing tank is crucial for retrofitting existing ships with environmentally friendly technologies.
Intensive Public Relations and Scientific Contributions
SYNERGETICS places great importance on disseminating project results. Participation in prestigious events such as the Transport Research Arena 2024 and the Posidonia 2024 exhibition has further spotlighted the project. Additionally, scientific publications have been released that explore the potential of renewable hydrogen supply for inland shipping.
The Role of Argo-Anleg and Technical Contributions
Argo-Anleg brings extensive expertise and technology from already realized hydrogen projects in shipping to the SYNERGETICS project. The project is technology-neutral, allowing Argo-Anleg to utilize both hydrogen combustion engines and fuel cell technologies. Argo-Anleg’s fuel cell technology has the advantage of being 100% emission-free. As an innovator, consultant, technology, and production partner, Argo-Anleg provides practical solutions and technologies such as the “Multiple Element Gas Container (MEGC)” interchangeable container tank system, which is already successfully used in the ELEKTRA project. Argo-Anleg has also developed its own MEGC solution under the name “H2Tank-Tainer” and registered it as a trademark. This solution is based on 20-foot ISO containers and can store up to 500 kg of hydrogen at a pressure of 500 bar. The H2Tank-Tainer offers a safer and more efficient hydrogen supply due to its robust construction and comprehensive cloud integration for tracking and analyzing all position and process data. Smaller formats are also being developed by Argo-Anleg and adapted to the desired usage scenario. The MEGC developed for the ELEKTRA project will soon be market-ready and approved under the same brand name.
In addition to the technical implementation, Argo-Anleg focuses on the entire supply chain in the SYNERGETICS project, as finely tuned supply chains and interfaces are crucial for the project’s success. Managing Director Jan Andreas emphasizes: “The energy logistics chain is at least as important as the transformation of ship propulsion technology in existing fleets and new builds.” Argo-Anleg offers ready-to-use H2 filling stations and H2 tank systems approved for both road and marine traffic. These MEGC solutions enable quick and safe refueling and are ideal for use in various segments such as heavy-duty transport and public transport.
Promising Demonstration Projects
Over the past 18 months, SYNERGETICS has made significant progress in various demonstration projects. Particularly noteworthy is the operation of a battery pack in the inland container ship “Alphenaar,” which provides valuable technical and economic insights. Data collection from two hydrogen-powered container ships by Future Proof Shipping also shows promising results.
Outlook and Future Perspectives
Given the successes so far, Argo-Anleg looks forward to the next 24 months of the project with optimism. The upcoming work promises further innovations and advancements that will make a significant contribution to the green transformation of shipping. Argo-Anleg is proud to be part of this pioneering project and looks forward to sustainably changing the shipping industry together with the SYNERGETICS partners.
Funding Notice
The SYNERGETICS project is funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program under grant number 101096809.
