Through its subsidiary, EOConcept, Energy Observer has secured a €40 million grant from the European Union’s Innovation Fund for its project to build a cargo ship powered by liquid hydrogen. This financial support is a major milestone for the €100 million-plus vessel, which also has backing from the Accor group (initiators of the funding) and other partners*.
Victorien Erussard shared the good news on 5 November at the launch of the Energy Observer book. This European funding represents a crucial step towards the construction and operation of the ship by 2029.
Selected from among 85 projects in the largest call for projects** from the European Union’s Innovation Fund, the Energy Observer 2 (EO2) will receive €40 million in financial support. Didier Bouix, Managing Director of EO Concept, expressed his excitement: “EO2 represents an exceptional challenge, turning laboratory research into reality. With an on-board power of 4.8 MW, it’s equivalent to managing a fleet of one hundred hydrogen-powered vehicles, which means we need to step up our skills and rigorous management.” He added, “We’re working at 360 degrees to integrate the ship’s technologies, structure a port ecosystem dedicated to liquid hydrogen, and develop a digital twin, not forgetting team training.”
An iconic project for maritime transport
Energy Observer 2 is a 160-metre-long container ship, designed to transport up to 1,100 TEU containers with an operational range of 14 days, covering 1,600 nautical miles. Equipped with electric propulsion powered by 4.8 MW of fuel cells, developed in collaboration with EODev and industrial partner Toyota, the vessel marks a significant advancement in low-carbon maritime technology. Set to enter commercial service in 2029 along Europe’s Atlantic and Channel coasts, EO2 is projected to cut CO2 emissions by 112,250 tonnes over a decade, equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of 190,000 mature trees. Watch the video.
“At the beginning of Energy Observer, many claimed that hydrogen technologies would not work in a marine environment, but we proved the contrary,” says Victorien Erussard. “Today, with EO2, we want to take a major step forward by adopting liquid hydrogen, an energy vector that presents challenges but also offers real advantages in terms of environmental performance.”
*Key partners include CMA CGM, Air Liquide, Toyota, EODev, LMG Marin, Bureau Veritas, Dassault Systèmes, and, more recently, Chart Industries, who participated in two-year feasibility studies to establish the optimal technical and economic model.
**This €4.8 billion call for projects, covering 18 countries, is the largest to date and supports pioneering demonstrators in industry, mobility, and carbon management across various scales.
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