University of Vaasa leads Horizon Europe project using hydrogen as maritime fuel
In Finland, a consortium led by the University of Vaasa, Finland, has been awarded significant Horizon Europe funding for a major research and innovation project that moves long‑distance shipping closer to a zero‑carbon future. The H4PERION – Hydrogen FOR Performance Enhancement and Reliable Ice OperatioN – project will, for the first time, demonstrate in practice how a large vessel can operate with a hydrogen‑capable internal combustion engine (ICE). This marks an important milestone in clean maritime technology.
Long‑distance shipping remains one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Ships operating for weeks at a time need enormous amounts of energy and absolute reliability – requirements that today’s batteries and fuel cells cannot yet meet at scale. At the same time, global climate regulations for shipping are becoming much stricter, with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) calling for significant emission reductions this decade, increasing the need for new alternative fuels and propulsion technologies.
Category: Research
