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e1 Marine was delighted to be visiting Bergen for the annual Maritime Hybrid, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference in October 2022. The event brought together industry leaders to discuss how hybrid, electric, and hydrogen fuel-cell technologies continue to drive the transition to a zero-emissions maritime industry. Speakers covered a range of topics, including how more investment in innovative technology and an understanding of when the cut-off will be for the cessation of fossil-fuel-powered systems will be needed to accelerate the development and take-up of green vessels. e1 Marine’s Managing Director, Robert Schluter, spoke on the first day on the topic of “Hydrogen as a maritime fuel: the role of the port.” The presentation focused on the important role that ports have to play as decarbonization hubs and the logistics of providing green shore power. In addition, Robert Schluter highlighted the supply of alternative fuels, increasing operational efficiencies and generating and using clean energy, as well as the developments being made in methanol-to-hydrogen generator technology. During his presentation, Robert Schluter commented: “Hydrogen offers enormous potential as a marine fuel, but there are challenges. Methanol offers a low-carbon alternative pathway, independent of electrical input, to economically produce Hydrogen at the point of use. Methanol is already distributed globally and is proven as a clean, efficient, and safe marine fuel. It is a no-brainer.” If you listened at the event, have any questions, or want to get in touch and discuss e1 Marine’s methanol to hydrogen generator technology, please contact us. For more information on the event itself, click here.

Following the appointment of David Lim to the role of Vice President of Application Engineering in May 2022, David shares his expertise across engineering and renewable energy and highlights how the development of analytical tools will support e1 Marine’s marine fuel cell generator product development. Personal perspectives How will your experience and role at e1 Marine move the business forward? The work we are doing at e1 Marine and my previous work in the telecom sector bear many similarities. In both cases, we are substituting the legacy diesel engine technology with methanol-to-hydrogen technology. My experience enables me to accurately illustrate that this new technology is safe, regulated, and economical, while also effectively reducing carbon emissions. During my time in the telecom industry, I worked with system integrators to develop products, and work with mid to end-level customers. While we must take a similar approach in the marine sector, the power requirement is much larger, therefore presenting a significant demand for the material involved, and quickly driving down the capital cost at production. From your perspective, how is e1 Marine solving key industry issues? Hydrogen-based power technology will present a decarbonisation revolution across industries, and we will see significant impact on the maritime sector in particular. However, one of the biggest challenges facing hydrogen use in power systems is availability – that’s where e1 Marine comes in. Our methanol-to-hydrogen generator technology provides the missing link in the value chain by offering an economical and practical approach to on-site hydrogen generation across the shipping industry, from ports to seagoing vessels. Since methanol is one of the most traded commodity chemicals available in most ports, it holds the potential to advance shipping’s journey to net-zero through use of e1 Marine’s technology. As a liquid fuel, established bunkering infrastructure for traditional marine fuels can easily be converted to use methanol and it has cost advantages – even in comparison with contemporary diesel generators, or before considering any new regulation or carbon tax. What have been your personal highlights in your first six months at e1 Marine? Receiving Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register for our methanol-to-hydrogen generator technology was a promising demonstration of support from the industry, and has since established the technology as a tangible solution to reduce emissions in the shipping sector. It also supports our piloting program, so that we can demonstrate how our solution can contribute to reducing shipping’s carbon emissions. e1 Marine solutions What challenges can fuel cell technology help to solve, particularly in maritime? Hydrogen fuel cell technology has the capacity to decarbonize the shipping industry by providing clean, efficient power while serving long hours over long distances for a broad range of applications. However, hydrogen infrastructure is yet to be ready, presenting issues such as cost, transport, safety, and regulation. By using methanol as a hydrogen carrier, you can mitigate these challenges, and as a result, encourage further demand for the adoption of renewable fuels and clean technology. What can we expect to see from e1 Marine in 2023? In 2023, we will be launching our containerized solution for port application, and we expect to see further progress in maritime certification with Lloyd’s Register and similar organizations. In addition, M/V Hydrogen One, the world’s first methanol-fueled towboat, developed by Maritime Partners in cooperation with Elliott Bay Design Group, e1 Marine and ABB, will be launching in late 2023 and we look forward to seeing the vessel on the water and our technology in action. Shipping industry trends What are the biggest trends you are seeing in Asia in terms of trying to achieve decarbonization in maritime? Singapore is shaping up to be a frontrunner in the adoption of decarbonization technologies for ports and vessels in Asia. However, other Asian countries are close behind; South Korea is leading in the production of methanol-powered vessels with a recent 12-vessel order from Maersk, China is following with a recent order from CMA-CGM, while Japan is also actively exploring methanol solutions. The shipping industry is in a period of huge change. Where do you expect to see the industry in the next five years? With the industry anxious to decarbonize, I expect to see significant adoption of clean energy technologies, such as methanol technology in port side applications such as cold ironing, reefers, and battery charging for EV and electrified ships, and methanol-powered ships in various applications, whether based on electrification or combustion technology, and from seagoing to inland waterways, globally.

e1 Marine, a global renewable energy company, today announced that its M-series methanol-to-hydrogen generator has been awarded a Concept Verified Statement of Maturity by ABS, a key step on the path to commercial application. As part of ABS' New Technology Qualification (NTQ) process, ABS engineers reviewed e1 Marine’s technology and verified its potential application as a hydrogen generator for onboard production of fuel cell-grade hydrogen for essential services. The NTQ offers guidance on the early adoption and efficient implementation of new technologies – demonstrating their level of maturity – and that potential design risks have been systematically reviewed. The verification gives end-users clear confirmation that this new technology performs its intended functions in accordance with defined performance requirements. As the marine and offshore industries continually invest in new technologies to streamline operations, reduce emissions, and reduce costs, this approval from ABS will demonstrate the readiness, maturity, and safety of these new technologies. Robert Schluter, Managing Director at e1 Marine, commented: "Shipping faces a race against time to decarbonize and close collaboration between companies and certification bodies is vital for accelerating the widespread commercial integration of trusted new solutions. With ISO standards already in place for the use of methanol in the maritime sector, our work with ABS ensures that we can demonstrate the robustness of our safety credentials to provide essential reassurance for customers. This latest certification brings us one step closer to taking our M-series methanol to hydrogen generator to market and playing our part in enabling a cleaner future for the marine industry." Roy Bleiberg, Vice President, N. America Business Development at ABS, added: "We are in a new era of technology innovation, and at ABS, we are committed to supporting the development of new technologies, particularly those related to the energy transition. Our approach to new technology qualification allows for systematic and consistent evaluation of complex systems through confirmation of operational integrity, mitigating risks to its intended application. The approach is a multi-stage process that aligns with standard product development phases for new technology. We are proud to collaborate with e1 Marine on such an innovative project." The e1 Marine M-series methanol-to-hydrogen generator is used in conjunction with Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology to deliver a proven efficiency gain over legacy internal combustion engines with a more reliable, safer, and greener fuel than legacy marine bunkers. The generator can be delivered on-site, onboard, and on-demand, and it provides an immediately viable pathway to green energy. The project is developed in collaboration between Element 1 Corp., the leading methanol-to-hydrogen technology company; Ardmore Shipping Corporation, an independent owner and operator of mid-size product and chemical tanker vessels; and Maritime Partners, a tailored leasing solution provider to the maritime industry.

e1 Marine's M-series methanol to hydrogen generator has received Approval in Principle (AiP) for marine applications from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator on any vessel type. Quickly following the AiP from Lloyd’s Register in May 2022, the AiP from the RMI Maritime Administrator provides further confirmation that e1 Marine’s technology has the potential to become an important player in developing and delivering low-carbon energy to international maritime markets and is accelerating its development and growth on a global scale in line with demand. Robert Schluter, Managing Director at e1 Marine, commented: “The M-series methanol to hydrogen generator is making hydrogen a viable fuel option for the maritime industry for vastly different applications. The AiP letter from the RMI Maritime Administrator is one step forward in our efforts to work with flag states to support vessel decarbonization. Our technology emits zero NOx, SOx and PM emissions which is helping to meet regulation but also assist with the potential for a carbon tax. This technology delivers a proven efficiency gain over legacy internal combustion engines with a more reliable, safer, and greener fuel than traditional marine bunkers and we look forward to demonstrating this in the near future.” Gary Noonan, Director of Innovation at Ardmore Shipping added: “Shipowners are under pressure to reduce emissions in line with International Maritime Organization (IMO) measures. For Ardmore, the IMO 2030 and 2050 timelines are targets which we are trying to meet and exceed but this means taking innovative and comprehensive strategies to achieve this. When combined with PEM fuel cell technology, the e1 Marine Methanol Reformer costs are comparable with a Tier III generator set. However, it also shows more than a 25% relative improvement when comparing energy efficiencies in typical operation. This helps vessels to improve Carbon Intensity Indicator ratings and can be maximized further when using green methanol.” David Wamsley, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs of the RMI Maritime Administrator said: “It is essential to create the right infrastructure to support sustainable shipping practices and protect marine life and coastal communities. Collaborating on new innovative technologies, like e1Marine’s M-series methanol to hydrogen generator, which will help shipowners explore new options for sustainable shipping, is one way to achieve this goal. Innovative low and zero-carbon energy providers are in a position to transform the shipping industry and we look forward to seeing what progress can be made in the short- and medium-terms.” Through e1 Marine’s patented hydrogen generation technology, fuel cell-grade hydrogen is safely and cost-effectively generated from methanol and water. It can be delivered on-site, onboard, and on-demand, and it provides an immediately viable pathway to green energy. The fuel cell grade hydrogen output meets all relevant ISO standards, and it is ideal for use with fuel cells to generate electricity or to supplement the standard fuel of a conventional engine.

e1 Marine’s M-series methanol to hydrogen generator has received Approval in Principle (AiP) for marine applications from Lloyd’s Register, a leading class society. The AiP represents an important landmark for demonstrating the compliance of e1 Marine’s technology with all applicable regulations, codes and standards. This will act as a springboard for enabling the demonstration of the generator across different maritime sectors from ports and towboats to offshore and deepsea vessels. Lloyd’s Register has also confirmed that final approval for the technology is possible, including for inland waterways, when following Inland Waterway regulations. Robert Schluter, Managing Director at e1 Marine, commented: “The maritime industry faces a once in a generation challenge in managing the way it utilises energy for propulsion as part of the global energy transition to net zero carbon. Using e1 Marine’s technology, with methanol providing a safe and effective carrying medium for hydrogen, enables the adoption of clean zero emission fuel cell power solutions. With the M-series methanol to hydrogen generator, we are making hydrogen a viable fuel option for the maritime industry for vastly different applications. “Securing Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register underscores our technology’s viability. It also provides valuable credentials to support our piloting programme, so that we can demonstrate how our solution can contribute to reducing shipping’s carbon emissions.” Mark Darley, Marine & Offshore Director at Lloyd’s Register, said: “This Approval in Principle is an important step towards reducing carbon emissions from power sources for ship operations, helping transfer the expertise gained in this technology on land to a potentially wide variety of marine applications. We look forward to assisting e1 Marine with their technological advances to assist the global maritime energy transition.” Through e1 Marine’s patented hydrogen generation technology, fuel cell-grade hydrogen is safely and cost-effectively generated from methanol and water. It can be delivered on-site, onboard, and on-demand, and it provides an immediately viable pathway to green energy. The fuel cell-grade hydrogen output meets all relevant ISO standards, and it’s ideal for use with fuel cells to generate electricity or to supplement the standard fuel of a conventional engine. The successful development of this system builds on a collaboration between Element 1 Corp, the leading methanol-to-hydrogen technology company; Ardmore Shipping Corporation, an independent owner and operator of mid-size product and chemical tanker vessels; and Maritime Partners, a tailored leasing solution provider to the maritime industry. For more information on the technology, click here.

In April 2022, e1 Marine received Approval in Principle for its M-series methanol-to-hydrogen generator. The fuel cell technology, which will be applied to MV Hydrogen One, the world’s first methanol-fueled tow boat, is expected to act as a springboard for enabling the demonstration of the generator across different maritime sectors, from ports and towboats to offshore and deep-sea vessels. ship.energy speaks with e1 Marine’s Managing Director, Robert Schluter, to find out more. Schluter highlights the main challenges for the widespread adoption of fuel cells from the qualities of hydrogen as a low carbon fuel to the cost of storage. ‘It’s inexpensive to make at the point of the generation of the hydrogen – it might be $1.50 per kilogram,’ says Schluter. ‘If you’re a large organization such as Maersk, you’re probably buying that hydrogen at $8-$10 a kilogram. But for a typical end-user it’s going to be more than that – in that $12-$16 [range]. And if you talk about us as individuals driving a hydrogen-fueled car, you might be paying $16-$20 a kilogram.’ Schluter continues: ‘So, the cost of that hydrogen is quite high whereas when you convert methanol and water with the generator into hydrogen at the point of use, we can do it for about $4 a kilogram.’ As this cost incentive becomes clearer, there has been a change in the industry’s perception of the technology. Previously, initial interest would amount to small-scale demonstration projects to validate the technology in the marine space, however, this has now been replaced with larger operators committing to building a first vessel in a series. e1 Marine is now working with the largest naval architecture firms to design the best solutions. Read the full interview here.

On 29th March 2022, e1 Marine hosted an event in Amsterdam titled 'Participate in Progress: Getting Hydrogen to Work'. The event united a variety of industry stakeholders in a series of panel discussions to consider the viability of hydrogen as a sustainable alternative shipping fuel. The event welcomed attendees from across the industry including fuel producers, class societies, naval architects and regulators to discuss the viability of hydrogen for inland waterways, shortsea and deep-sea shipping and ports. Robert Schluter, Managing Director of e1 Marine, led the panel discussion on short-sea shipping. “When it comes to finding a clean alternative fuel for short-sea shipping, the first questions being asked focused on sourcing and availability of the feedstock, and it was recognised that it is essential to consider the life cycle emissions of any potential new fuel. To make real progress on decarbonisation, we need to consider the carbon footprint of the fuel starting from its origin, including the manufacturing process and transportation process, right the way through to the point of use.” Schluter highlighted that methanol can be made from renewable sources. It is already one of the world’s most widely traded chemicals and is readily available most of the top 100 ports worldwide. As it is a liquid fuel, established bunkering infrastructure for traditional marine fuels can easily be converted to support methanol. “e1 Marine’s methanol to hydrogen generator technology converts methanol into hydrogen fuel which can overcome the challenge of supply, particularly in short sea shipping, including for ferries, passenger boats, high-speed crafts, tugs and offshore service vessels,” said Schluter. Maite Klarup, Global Commercial Director at e1 Marine, hosted a panel discussion on achieving sustainable inland waterway shipping. “The panel recognised that there are challenges associated with introducing alternative power sources into this sector. For example, the limited storage capacity on towboats restricts the use of pressurised or cryogenically stored gases as fuels. The panel also recognised that few dockside facilities are equipped to load such marine fuels, which severely constrains a vessel’s range and functionality.” However, hydrogen produced by onboard reformation of methanol and water enables shipowners to stay ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) future regulations, said Klarup. It also allows owners and operators to take advantage of future decarbonisation technologies as they mature. The panel highlighted the importance of the world’s first methanol fuelled towboat, M/V Hydrogen One, a hydrogen fuel cell and battery-powered push boat designed for inland operations in the US. “This vessel will be a game-changer for the industry and will demonstrate that the decarbonisation of inland waterways is not about ‘if’, it’s about ‘when’,” said Klarup. The price differential between technologies will no longer involve comparisons with diesel engines by 2030, predicted Klarup, but the industry needs economies of scale to get prices down. “Shipping needs a clean image, and that’s what shipowners will be paying for.” The event concluded with panellists agreeing that shipping faces a race against time to decarbonise with increasing external pressure driving the need for an energy transition. Since the event, e1 Marine has received Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register for its technology and looks forward to continuing its progress towards offering a proven viable solution for the shipping industry. For more information on e1 Marine’s technology, please click here.

e1 Marine has announced the appointment of David Lim to the newly created role of Vice President of Application Engineering. Based in Asia, David will be focussing on engineering efforts for e1 Marine’s marine fuel cell generators and providing product support alongside the other partner companies. Previously Vice President of Business Development at partner company, Element 1, David Lim has an impressive background in the product and business development, and production of renewable energy products including fuel cell technology such as fuel reformers, and fuel cell system products. Within this role he also provided consultative technical advice to e1 Marine’s team prior to joining. Now, with e1 Marine, David will be applying his extensive experience across engineering and renewable energy to lead the technical endeavour including the development of analytical tools to support e1 Marine’s product development by working with partners across manufacturing and class society certification. David Lim, Vice President of Application Engineering at e1 Marine, said: “Joining the team at e1 Marine starts a new journey for building the company’s presence in Asia. I am working with the product development team to ensure we are optimising the quality of the systems and amplifying its benefits to the maritime industry with its variety of commercial applications. “There is a significant need for alternative fuels and clean shipping technologies to decarbonize the maritime industry and Asia is a key region which is already progressing its sustainability a renewable energy journey, particularly in Singapore, Japan and Korea. With IMO regulatory targets and impending EU carbon tax requirements, the maritime industry is at a tipping point in terms of progressing to carbon neutrality. It is a very exciting time for e1 Marine and it is a pleasure to be part of its quickly accelerating journey to success.” Robert Schluter, Managing Director of e1 Marine, commented: “Welcoming David Lim to our team at e1 Marine is a great step forward for us. His extensive experience in renewable energy, specifically fuel cell technology and chemical engineering, will help e1 Marine demonstrate its value to the sector. In addition, David’s new role marks the start of our team based in Asia, developing important relationships within our network.” For more information on David’s background, and the rest of the e1 Marine team, click here.

e1 Marine & the $40 million win, Win, WIN! Marine Money’s Preferred Equity Deal of the Year Awards has recognised e1 Marine as a “win-win-win” for all three parties involved: Ardmore Shipping, Maritime Partners and Element 1. Shipping companies generally issue preferred shares for three basic reasons: (1) they need the cash; (2) their balance sheet can’t support more cheap debt; and (3) their share price is so low that issuing common equity would be unduly dilutive to shareholders. However, Ardmore Shipping’s 2021 issuance of $40 million of 8.5% Series A investment was something altogether different, overcoming these challenges by finding mutual synergy between Ardmore Shipping, Maritime Partners and element 1. Robert Schluter, Managing Director of e1 Marine commented on the award win: “Being awarded Marine Money’s Preferred Equity Deal of the Year Award demonstrates the appetite in the market for innovative and collaborative solutions to the industry’s core challenge: decarbonisation. Sharing knowledge and assets is essential for the industry to achieve its goals and e1 Marine epitomises that principle. e1 Marine brings together the expertise of Element 1 in designing advanced methanol to hydrogen generation systems designs with the specialist knowledge of the marine sector brought by Ardmore Shipping and Maritime Partners. Our offering has been recognised by all three organisations as a valuable proposition for entirely different reasons, demonstrating the value of methanol to hydrogen generators to the entire maritime industry. “This creative transaction was not only a first of its kind in shipping, but it may also have been a first of its kind, period and it has exciting benefits in the short, medium, and long term for every party involved.” Read the full Maritime Money, The Preferred Equity article here. Read the full Marketscreener article here.

On 29th March 2022, e1 Marine hosted an event in Amsterdam “Participate in Progress: Getting Hydrogen to Work” and welcomed a wide range of industry stakeholders to discuss the viability of hydrogen as a sustainable future fuel for shipping. The event focused on three panel discussions which explored how vital supply chain components: inland waterway, ports, and shortsea and deep-sea shipping can mitigate the impact of carbon and other emissions today - while also optimizing energy use and spend – by utilizing hydrogen fuel cell technology. The three panels covered the following topics: The reality of achieving sustainable inland waterway shipping 550 million tonnes of cargo are shipped annually through Europe’s waterways alone by inland waterway tankers, barges and other vessels. Many were built long before sustainable operations became a priority. The panel discussed some of the historic challenges with alternative power sources. This included issues such as the requirement to recharge batteries daily keeping vessels on fixed routes and how the limited storage capacity on towboats restricts the use of pressurized or cryogenically stored gases as fuels. However, hydrogen produced by onboard reformation of methanol and water can enable shipowners to stay ahead of the future requirements of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). It also allows owners and operators to take advantage of future decarbonization technologies as they mature, as highlighted by the world’s first methanol fueled towboat, M/V Hydrogen One, which will be IMO 2030 compliant, meet the USCG’s Subchapter M requirements, and have an operational range of 550 miles before refueling. ​ Panelists Austin Sperry, Managing Partner - Maritime Partners Johan Burgren, Business Manager - PowerCell Sweden AB Maite Klarup, Commercial Director - e1  Marine David Lee, VP of Sales – Global Workboat Responsible, ABB Moderator Alisdair Pettigrew, Director, BLUE Communications The future of port power While main engines are usually shut off during a ship’s stay at berth, a ship’s auxiliary engines are still operating to provide electricity for cargo equipment; ancillary equipment such as refrigeration and pumps; all hotel services; and its auxiliary boilers to keep fuel temperatures and the main engines’ cylinders warm; to generate inert gas required for safe oil handling. All EU ports will be required to have cold ironing provision by the end of 2025 as part of the EU’s Green Deal, while ESG pressure grows daily on ports. With growing social, regulatory, and financial demands for greater sustainability, ports are looking to meet their dynamic energy demands in adaptive, flexible, and scalable ways. The panelists highlighted the potential for generating electricity in-port which can then meet a vast range of applications in addition to cold ironing for berthed ships. Providing electricity for ongoing port operations, BEV vehicles, drayage trucks and powering other port equipment brings additional potential and therefore reduces particulates, zero NOx, zero SOx, impacting large communities near ports too. Panelists Mark Cameron, EVP & COO - Ardmore Shipping Bryan Reid, Chief Sales Officer - RIX Industries Mike Webber, Managing Partner - Armistead Street Capital Partners David Lee, VP of Sales – Global Workboat Responsible, ABB Moderator Alisdair Pettigrew, Director, BLUE Communications Fuels of today and tomorrow for short-sea and deep-sea shipping Ocean-going shipping emits circa 1 billion tonnes of CO2 per annum, just under 3% of all man-made carbon emissions, but could change to 10% of all global emissions by 2050 based on current regulations. While the IMO has set targets for decarbonization, they are widely deemed to be too diluted to trigger significant behavioral change, and, from a regulatory perspective, there is a broader urgency from the likes of the EU to bring shipping under its ETS, proposed to begin in 2023. Meanwhile, financial stakeholders have adopted the Poseidon Principles, and charterers and shippers are driving forward with the Sea Cargo Charter – both delivering ‘demand side pull’ to shipowners and operators, as well as a signal to shipping from wider society. Panelists Garry Noonan, Director of Innovation - Ardmore Shipping Robert Schluter, Managing Director - e1  Marine Matthías Ólafsson, Government & Public Affairs - Methanol Institute Prasanna Colluru, Director Corporate Strategy - Future Proof Shipping Moderator Alisdair Pettigrew, Director, BLUE Communications The event discussions highlighted how hydrogen fuel, as a liquid or compressed gas, has always been challenging and expensive to transport and bunker. However, methanol is a game-changer for hydrogen generation – due to its ready availability, low cost, hydrogen density, environmental friendliness, and ease of transport and storage. The event concluded with the remarks that innovation is key and, as the maritime industry experiences rapid transformation, hydrogen can make changes today. Read more about the e1 Marine methanol to hydrogen technology here for more information: https://www.e1marine.com/technology

e1 Marine's parent company Element 1 Corp and Aramco Americas have begun a joint research program to integrate Aramco’s carbon capture technology with e1’s methanol-to-hydrogen generator. The collaborative effort will investigate the potential for low CO2 emissions in a wide array of mobility and stationary power fuel cell applications. “Aramco is advancing the development of sustainable transportation solutions and our innovative work with mobile carbon capture technology aligns with e1’s approach to low carbon mobility,” said Esam Hamad, PhD, Aramco’s global project leader of mobile carbon capture. Aramco’s technology enables carbon capture at a localised level effectively addressing complex challenges associated with small scale carbon capture. These features fit well with e1’s hydrogen generators, which produce high purity hydrogen for fuel cell applications that can be situated on vehicles, marine vessels, and aircraft. “This joint effort represents a unique opportunity to provide a critical and widely needed hydrogen sourcing solution to fuel cell applications with an extremely attractive carbon footprint,” said e1 CEO and founder Dave Edlund, PhD.