French joint venture Energy Observer, via its subsidiary EOConcept, a pioneer in sustainable maritime solutions, launched the Energy Observer 2 project in 2022 with the ambition of designing the world’s lowest-carbon cargo ship.
The vessel, known as EO2, is an advanced demonstrator combining cutting-edge engineering and innovative technologies, which aims to transform maritime transport towards low-emission solutions. With European funding, the designers hope to achieve construction and operation of the world’s largest liquid hydrogen-powered cargo ship by 2029, supporting the transition to environmentally friendly maritime technologies.
Selected from among 85 projects in the European Union Innovation Fund’s largest call for projects, EO2 has been awarded €40m in financial support to encourage the development of clean technologies in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise.
The Energy Observer 2 project benefits from the support of strategic partners, with an early and decisive commitment from the Accor group, which provided initial seed funding of the project to turn this first large demonstration vessel running on liquid hydrogen in maritime transport into a reality. This support is aligned with the Accor group’s decarbonisation initiatives, notably with Silenseas, the world’s largest sailing ship under construction under its Orient Express brand, powered by LNG and assisted by a sailing rig. Although LNG can improve air quality and reduce CO₂ emissions by 15-20%, the Accor Group recognises the need to go much further to meet IMO targets.
Other players such as CMA CGM group, Air Liquide, Toyota, EODev, LMG Marin, Bureau Veritas, Dassault Systèmes and, more recently, Chart Industries, took part in the feasibility studies over a two-year period to define the optimum techno-economic model. Thanks to their expertise, they have helped select the technical and logistical solutions required for this pilot project.
The current design of the EO2 is a 160m long container ship, capable of carrying up to 1,100 TEU on a 14 day, 1,600 naut mile route. Equipped with electric propulsion powered by 4.8MW of fuel cells developed by EODev and its industrial partner Toyota, this vessel is considered a breakthrough in low-carbon maritime technologies. Scheduled for commercial operation from 2029 on Europe’s Atlantic and Channel coasts, EO2 could reduce CO₂ emissions by 112,250t over 10 years. This pioneering project aims to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of liquid hydrogen for maritime transport on short segments, consolidating Europe’s position as a leader in the energy transition.
To achieve the full potential of this project, aside the financial support of the EU, an efficient port ecosystem for liquid hydrogen bunkering is essential. EOConcept and Chart Industries are currently carrying out this work, with the aim of structuring liquid hydrogen bunkering infrastructures to achieve an attractive target price for shipowners, and to make the operation of such low-carbon ships accessible and competitive. The Brittany and Normandy regions are also playing a crucial role in this effort, providing active support to develop the necessary infrastructures and encourage the adoption of liquid hydrogen as a maritime fuel.
Victorien Erussard, founder of Energy Observer said: “At the beginning of Energy Observer, many claimed that hydrogen technologies would not work in a marine environment, but we proved the contrary. 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. In the marine sector, there is no single path: each solution, whether biofuel, methanol or ammonia, has its advantages and disadvantages. Our aim is to help build a suitable energy mix, in which several technologies will have to coexist, depending on the type of flow and the distances to be covered. EO2 is part of this ambition.”
Didier Bouix, MD EO Concept added: “EO2 represents an exceptional challenge, turning laboratory research into reality. 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.”
Image: Rendering of Energy Observer’s EO2 project (source: Energy Observer)
