The Korean Register (KR) has signed an MOU agreement with STX Energy Solutions (STX ES) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) to work together for the development of solid oxide fuel for ships.

This also meant technology standardization and commercialization of solid oxide fuel cells.

In a statement, the Busan-based KR said the agreement was signed to facilitate the development of a future power generation system through the sharing and application of technology and research resources to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) increasingly rigorous environmental regulations.

"A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is a new low-carbon, high-efficiency renewable energy power generation facility that produces electricity through the electrochemical reaction of oxygen and hydrocarbons from oxidizing LNG," KR explained.

The IMO has set the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 2008 levels, by 2050.

Accordingly, the maritime industry is actively developing various eco-friendly fuel application technologies such as ammonia and biomethane.

KR noted that similarly, SOFC’s are being included in ship designs as a power generation facility and are being evaluated as means to reduce greenhouse gases.

"Under the MOU agreement, each company plans to apply their expertise and strengths, for example by enacting and revising the technical standards to fit SOFC on ships, and by deriving and performing joint research tasks," KR said, adding that STX ES will be in charge of developing and supplying SOFC systems for ships while DSME will manage the onshore testing and evaluation of SOFC systems for ships as well as the SOFC ship application concept research and demonstration project planning and execution.

"The aim of the three companies' joint cooperation is to successfully standardize the technology and thereby commercialize SOFC's for ships, allowing the technology to be applied to different types of ships in the future," KR — which currently classes an international fleet of 3,053 vessels totaling 77 million GT — added.