02.10.2008
Honoured: Technology of tomorrow
FCS Alsterwasser has honourably received the f-cell award in silver. Besides Zemships a joint project of the German Aerospace Center and Airbus of Germany has been honoured with the f-cell award in silver as well.
At the end of August Hamburg celebrated a world premier: the first fuel cell driven ship using a system of 100 kW, FCS Alsterwasser, has started its regular line service. Just a few weeks after the ship naming ceremony the project has now been awarded with the f-cell award in silver. Especially the application orientation of the project impressed the jury.
The new vessel carries up to 100 passengers at each service-without any emissions besides water vapour. From now on passengers can get an authentic impression of the cutting-edge technology installed in the boat themself, while taking a trip on the Alster lake. The lake covers an area of 185 hectares and is from an ecological perspective a very sensitive vicinity. The emission savings are substantial: 1.000 kg of nitrogen oxide, 220 kg of sulphur dioxide, 40 kg of particles and more than 70.000 kg of carbon dioxide can be avoided per annum through the service of FCS Alsterwasser. Managing Director of the Alster Touristik GmbH, Ms. Gabriele Müller-Remer, is very happy about the award.Under the aegis of Hamburg’s Department of Urban Development and the Environment nine partners developed project Zemships together, applying their specific know-how to the project. Additional financial support has been granted by the EU-Life program. The heart of the FCS Alsterwasser, the hybrid-fuel cell propulsion system has been developed by Proton Motor. The two fuel-cell systems and the buffer battery are designed so that additional power sources as a diesel engines or others are completely unnecessary. The Linde Group, being an important project partner as well, manages the task of supplying the needed hydrogen for the project. For the project only a fuelling infrastructure has been.
Besides project Zemships other firms were happy to receive the f-cell award as well. Freudenberg of Weinheim, Viessmann of Allendorf and Schuk Kohlenstofftechnik of Heuchnheim won the f-cell award in gold with their joint contest entry. This year for the first time ever the f-cell award in silver and bronze has been awarded to two competitors at the same time. In addition to project Zemships a joint application of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Airbus Germany received the f-cell award in silver. Furthermore the Daimler AG of Kirchheim/Teck and the Rotarex Group of Luxembourg were awarded with the f-cell award in bronze. Overall 22 applications entered the f-cell competition in 2008. The award, which has been issued by the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, was endowed with a total of 30.000 € and can be count among the most prestigious competitions of its kind in Germany.
