Damen Yachting and Blue World Technologies have signed a high-level strategic collaboration in the field of energy technology. This collaboration, which was made official at the end of April 2023, reflects Damen Yachting’s commitment to the research and implementation of more sustainable and future fuel technologies.
Located in Aalborg in Denmark, Blue World Technologies is a developer and manufacturer of high-temperature PEM fuel cells running on methanol. Their mission is to introduce energy-efficient and cost-effective methanol fuel cell technology to industries worldwide. The company has been working with Damen Yachting for a number of months as part of the Dutch superyacht builder’s energy programme. A collaboration which Blue World Technologies’ Marine Sales Director Torben Mørch Sørensen believes brings tremendous opportunity to both parties:
“Damen Yachting is a very strong player within superyachts. We appreciate their trust in us and in our fuel cell technology, and we are very excited about this collaboration which provides both parties with valuable learning and knowledge in the path towards a greener maritime industry. Close collaboration between builders and suppliers, like ours, is essential to implement new and innovative technologies that eventually will benefit the climate and environment as well as the yacht Owners.”
When researching potential energy technology partners, it was Blue World Technologies’ products that played an influential role in Damen Yachting’s choice to team up with a company that would enable them to look longer term and to the upcoming generations of technology. In particular their next generation fuel cell technology that offers higher efficiency with the additional potential for more energy efficient vessel operation overall thanks to the quality of recoverable heat. Furthermore, their focus on methanol is in line with Damen Yachting’s sustainability vision in reducing their carbon impact and the role methanol could play in that.
“We are delighted to be working with the team at Blue World Technologies. From our first visit to their facilities in Denmark, it became very clear that there was a great synergy between the two companies. That we have a shared ambition and that our goals and way of working align very well. We are very excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings both companies and we look forward to monitoring the developments in the coming months.” Damen Yachting Design and Proposal Engineer Haico van Roeden.
The Blue World Technologies team will be working closely with both Product Design Managers and Engineers at Damen Yachting towards implementing sustainable solutions in the Dutch yacht builder’s products and projects in line with the company’s sustainability goals.
Further information on methanol and fuel cells:
- Methanol can be made from renewable sources either as a biofuel or e-fuel.
- Due to the liquid nature of methanol, the existing global fuel infrastructure for storage, transport, and distribution can be reused.
- Methanol is a highly recognised alternative fuel in the maritime industry.
- The fuel cell system from Blue World Technologies ensures a high energy conversion of the methanol thereby bringing down the additional fuel cost connected to using green fuels.
- According to Methanol Institute, to meet increasing demand methanol production is expected to five-fold by 2050 and more than 80% is expected to come from renewable sources.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Laura Nicholls, PR & Communications Manager, Damen Yachting
Mobile +31 6 51442880
laura.nicholls@damenyachting.
Anne Kvist, Head of PR and Communication, Blue World Technologies
Mobile: +45 31 60 16 71
[email protected]
About Damen Yachting
Damen Yachting is the Dutch master yacht builder behind the iconic Amels brand of luxury superyachts, the award-winning SeaXplorer range of luxury explorer yachts and market leading Yacht Supports extending fleets and defining a new way of yachting.
The family-run company has a heritage grounded on centuries of Dutch maritime history, ship building and family legacies. An icon of pedigree and quality and the market leader in 50-metre plus yachts. As part of the Damen Shipyards Group, owned by the Damen family, clients benefit from access to the Group’s extensive global network of shipyards including dedicated Damen Yachting hubs. Their headquarters and main shipyard site in Vlissingen are located at the largest luxury yacht building yard in the Netherlands which is serviced by more than 1,500 craftsmen and women working together with clients’ teams and co-makers. Damen Yachting is recognised for introducing some of the industry’s most successful and pioneering build methods as well as diversification within its portfolio of yachting solutions.
About Blue World Technologies
Blue World Technologies is an ambitious and visionary developer and manufacturer of HT-PEM fuel cell components and systems for stationary applications, on- and off road applications, and the maritime industry. The fuel cells act as a green alternative to combustion engines and diesel generators. As a part of the Power-to-X eco-system the methanol fuel cell technology contributes to solving parts of the green transition that cannot be solved by direct electrification and battery technology alone.
Blue World Technologies’ fuel cells run primarily on methanol – a renewable liquid fuel that simply and cost-effectively can be stored for years and transported around the world while reusing existing infrastructure.
Blue World Technologies is founded on extensive experience from the fuel cell industry and aims towards commercialising the technology through large-scale production. The company is focused on the High-Temperature PEM technology combined with methanol-reforming. The combination ensures a simple system design with high conversion efficiency and significant benefits including CO2 reduction, fuel cost savings, and reduced emissions.
Main Image caption: ©Damen Yachting. Pictured from left to right at the quayside of Damen Yachting in Vlissingen, the Netherlands: Rob Luijendijk – Director Sales & Product Design, Damen Yachting, Torben Mørch Sørensen – Marine Sales Director, Blue World Technologies, Adriaan Roose – Amels Product Design Manager, Damen Yachting, and Haico van Roeden – Design & Proposal Engineer, Damen Yachting.
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