EKPO supplies fuel cell stacks for cruise ship

• EKPO secures contract to supply fuel cell stacks for cruise ship
• Delivery of the NM12 Single stacks has already started
• Initial volume in the single-digit million euro range
• EKPO's fuel cell technology supports development of sustainable and eco-friendly cruises

Dettingen/Erms (Germany), July 04, 2023 +++ EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies GmbH (EKPO) has secured a contract from an international cruise company. The agreement covers the supply of NM12 Single fuel cell stacks for initially one cruise ship operated by the global cruise line. The initial volume will be within the single-digit million euro range. The delivery start of the stacks already took place in the first half of 2023.

Dr. Gernot Stellberger, Managing Director of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies, commented as follows: "The agreement has tremendous potential for the future and confirms our commitment to help shape the development of sustainable and eco-friendly shipping with our fuel cell stacks. In addition, the order clearly illustrates that our fuel cell stacks are suitable for a wide range of applications – on the road in buses, commercial vehicles and passenger cars, and beyond the road in industrial settings, on railways and especially for maritime usage. Our EKPO technology provides the best possible basis thanks to its combination of performance, compact design, and high efficiency."

Shipping currently accounts for around 3% of global CO₂ emissions. In Europe alone, far beyond 100 million tons of CO₂ are emitted annually by ferries, container ships, and cruise vessels. This share is likely to rise further due to the increasing importance of shipping. With this in mind, hydrogen-based propulsion in conjunction with fuel cells can help to reduce emissions by a significant margin. Not only can fuel cells reduce emissions, they are also capable of eliminating them – as long as the electricity for hydrogen production is generated from renewable energy sources.

EKPO is supplying NM12 Single stacks for the cruise ship's fuel cell propulsion system. The NM12 Single PEMFC stack module is available with 359 cells. At 2.5 bar_a operating pressure, it achieves an output of up to 123 kW_el. The NM12 stack modules are designed in particular for applications with high power requirements, such as in the maritime sector.

For further information, please contact on behalf of EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies:

ElringKlinger AG 
Dr. Jens Winter
Vice President Strategic Communications
Phone: +49 7123 724-88335
E-Mail: [email protected]

About EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies

EKPO Fuel Cell Technologies (EKPO), headquartered in Dettingen/Erms (Germany), is a leading joint venture in the development and large-scale production of fuel cell stacks for CO₂-neutral mobility. The company is a full-service supplier for fuel cell stacks and components used in passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, as well as in train and marine applications. Within this context, the company is building on the industrialization expertise of two established international automotive suppliers – ElringKlinger and Plastic Omnium.

The aim of the joint venture is to develop and mass-produce high-performance fuel cell stacks in order to further advance CO₂-neutral mobility - whether on the road, rail, water or off-road.