TECO 2030 and Skeleton Technologies have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the use of renewable hydrogen in the maritime sector and demonstrate zero-emissions voyage and port operations. Skeleton Technologies is a global technology leader in high power, fast charging energy storage for transportation, grid, automotive and industrial applications. As a first step, Skeleton's SuperBattery shall be integrated with TECO 2030's fuel cell modules in the HyEkoTank project, the largest marine fuel cell retrofit projects in the world, led by TECO 2030, Shell, and other consortium partners from three European countries (Norway, Sweden, and Netherlands).

Skeleton Technologies and TECO 2030 will then aim to develop joint solutions combining TECO 2030's hydrogen fuel cells and Skeleton's SuperBattery to enable the maritime industry's transition to net-zero, based on Skeleton's work in the HydroCap project funded by the Estonian government. The HyEkoTank project started on February 1st, 2023, in Lysaker, Norway, and is planned to last for 3 years, with the goal of eliminating carbon emissions during voyage and in port operations. TECO 2030 will retrofit six 400 kW Fuel Cell Modules in a container solution and demonstrate power supply for both propulsion and auxiliary loads using hydrogen with zero emissions as fuel.

Skeleton's SuperBattery modules will sharply increase fuel cells' performance and lifetime by reducing the requirement for peak power from the fuel cell. Skeleton's SuperBattery is a perfect fit for TECO 2030's fuel cells due to its power, safety, lifetime, and recyclability, therefore contributing to a joint solution to retrofit fleets and significantly reduce their GHG emissions cost-effectively. The HyEkoTank is a project funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme to develop optimised hydrogen fuel cell solutions for maritime applications and accelerate the achievement of climate neutrality of both sea-going and inland waterway waterborne transport.

Shipping is considered as a hard-to-decarbonize sector and its CO2 emissions accounts for 2.89 % of the world's emissions. The industry needs modular systems applicable for retrofit and newbuild, capable of reducing emissions and enable flexibility. Renewable hydrogen is seen as the best solution to enable the sector's decarbonization goals, but fuel cells need complementary technologies such as Skeleton's SuperBattery to increase their performance and lifetime.

The solution may eventually be used beyond the maritime sector, in heavy duty trucks, rail, shorepower, and construction. Skeleton is already involved in the project,HydroCap" funded by the Estonian government to explore these additional applications.