Flagships project: Zulu06 hydrogen-powered river barge set for demo testing in France

As the latest hydrogen-powered pilot program in inland operations that prepares for real-world testing, the zero-emission Zulu06 barge, powered by Ballard, will soon be shipping goods along a 30km route on the river Seine in Paris, France.

Zulu06 is a demonstration vessel that is part of the EU-funded Flagships project. It is powered by two Ballard FCwave™ 200kW fuel cell modules, equipped with a 350kg hydrogen storage unit containing compressed hydrogen (at 300 bars), and integrates a power generation system supplied by ABB.

The self-propelled barge is due to embark on a regular commercial route along the Seine, moving goods on pallets and containers between Gennevilliers and Bonneuil Sur Marne, with operation commencing by the end of the second quarter, 2024. After an 18-month period of trials, the ship owners, Compagnie Fluvial de Transport, plan to retain the vessel and utilize it in commercial operations.

"We want to raise the readiness of hydrogen-powered waterborne transport to an entirely new level globally. To do that, we need to demonstrate our ground-breaking technology. Seeing Zulu06 sailing emission-free in the middle of Paris will be an important step for our project to reach its goal. The collaborative nature of Flagships enhances our efforts to position zero-emission marine vessels as major solutions in the decarbonization of waterways globally."

Jyrki Mikkola Flagships Project Coordinator

The Flagships consortium includes 12 European partners that include shipowners Future Proof Shipping and Norled, integrators such as ABB, and ship design company LMG Marin – while Ballard's involvement lies in providing the fuel cell technology.

Zulu06 is one of two zero-emission vessels, along with H2 Barge 2, that makes up the Flagships project – an initiative which aims to deploy the two zero-emission inland-waterway vessels, designed and built to demonstrate the commercial viability of hydrogen-powered ships.