Volvo Penta
Volvo Penta is a world-leading and global manufacturer of engines and complete power systems for marine and industrial applications.
Building on a successful collaboration that began in 2017, CMB.TECH and Volvo Penta have expanded their collaboration. The primary objective is to scale up the implementation of dual fuel technology in the industry, thereby enabling the market to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Collaboration is key in realizing the solutions – Volvo Penta, its customers, and CMB.TECH are working together in various dual fuel field tests for different off-highway and power generation applications.
Our collaboration with Volvo Penta began with the remarkable prototype D4-300 engines, expertly employed aboard CMB.TECH's Hydroville. Building on this success, our partnership expanded, resulting in the development of the dual fuel D13-1000 engine. This prototype engine now powers the Hydrobingo vessel which is sailing in Japan.
In 2021, we embarked on yet another exciting project - the conversion of an industrial D8 engine to a hydrogen dual fuel engine!
Dual fuel hydrogen-powered solutions
CMB.TECH developed a hydrogen dual fuel engine in collaboration with Volvo Penta. This engine operates similarly to the regular D8 model but mainly uses a blend of hydrogen and traditional fuel instead of just traditional fuel, due to the dual fuel technology. The dual fuel solution's main advantage is that it will reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases up to 80%*, while at the same time provide a robust and reliable solution. And, if hydrogen is not available, the application continues to run on traditional fuel, safeguarding productivity.
The hydrogen dual fuel engine, built on Volvo Penta’s D8 EU Stage V platform can be applied in a variety of settings. It is ideal for off-highway segments like port handling, in applications like straddle carriers and RoRo-tractors, where uptime is crucial during regular duty cycles. This segment is rapidly advancing, with hydrogen refuelling infrastructure emerging in key markets to complement electrification initiatives.
Additionally, it is a viable option for power generation in stationary applications, such as gensets, where it delivers efficient and reliable energy using a mix of conventional and hydrogen fuel. Stationary applications are subject to other regulations compared to off-highway ones, which may allow for flexibility in the adoption of alternative energy solutions, including lower-emission options.
To ensure the long-term feasibility of hydrogen dual fuel combustion technology in real-world settings, rigorous field tests are conducted in collaboration with OEMs and customers. Below are two examples: one in an off-highway application and another in stationary genset applications.
RoRo tractor
One of the field tests running is in the port of Gothenburg, where a RoRo tractor is converted as test platform to use the Volvo Penta D8 dual fuel engine, operating on a mix of hydrogen and HVO.
Gensets
Hydrogen dual fuel use cases in gensets are being explored in field tests.
Hydrogen as a renewable fuel source for Volvo Penta engines
*Features depicted may not be standard or available for all equipment levels and powertrain options. Emissions, performance, and fuel efficiency may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to the application, driving cycle, operator’s experience, operational demands, vehicle/equipment maintenance, climate and weather conditions, idle time, fuel type, after-treatment systems, route planning, load, driving conditions, and various other factors.