Porrima Teams Up with YC Synergy as Stan Shih Drives Hydrogen-Powered Vessels into the International Market

By Times Reporter Jen Pei-Yun in Taipei

Porrima and YC Synergy announced today (11th) that they will jointly launch a renewable energy-based, distributed deployment system for on-site hydrogen production in islands or remote areas. By leveraging hydrogen’s high storage capacity and long-term energy storage advantages, the system supplements the shortcomings of battery storage, such as insufficient capacity and high costs, forming a complete renewable energy stable power supply system for isolated regions.

Porrima and YC Synergy are actively involved in the system upgrade and transformation of Porrima’s future vessels, with YC Synergy fully providing customized development and technical support for fuel cells and peripheral systems, as well as planning the system supply for future mass-produced vessel models.

Porrima was co-founded by Acer (2353) Group founder Stan Shih and Gunter Pauli, author of The Blue Economy. Recognizing net-zero carbon emissions as a major trend for future industrial development, Porrima aims to seize this paradigm shift opportunity by leveraging Taiwan’s industrial capabilities. The company is actively integrating Taiwan’s supply chain to establish a new industrial supply chain for zero-carbon vessels in Taiwan.

YC Synergy General Manager Huang Chih-Wen stated that by developing this power system, hydrogen-powered vessels will be able to refuel on-site in island regions, eliminating the cost of long-distance fossil fuel transportation and enabling the true commercialization of the hydrogen economy.

Porrima Chairman Stan Shih said that the company is currently negotiating cooperative projects with many countries and has signed several memorandums of understanding. Porrima hopes to replicate the successful experience of Taiwan’s electronics industry, becoming a “Shipless Ship Company” with an innovative business model that integrates Taiwan’s supply chain resources to become a pioneer in the global paradigm shift.

Porrima’s zero-carbon vessels will receive comprehensive technical support from YC Synergy for fuel cells and hydrogen systems, combined with the propulsion system integration and ship design expertise of the Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center. In addition to adopting this system on the Porrima 111O, it will also be implemented in future mass-production vessel models, such as the Porrima 66. Construction of the prototype mass-production vessel is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year, and the first zero-carbon vessel is expected to debut at the 2025 Osaka Expo.

The collaboration between Porrima and YC Synergy focuses on YC Synergy’s complete in-house development and manufacturing capabilities for fuel cell systems, as well as its extensive hydrogen-powered vessel engineering experience. This partnership will drive Taiwan’s shipbuilding industry toward high-value and differentiated products, while also promoting the overseas deployment of related renewable energy and hydrogen microgrid markets.

Huang Chih-Wen said that in addition to engineering experience in the field of hydrogen-powered vessels, YC Synergy, with support from Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy, completed its first integrated system for hydrogen production, storage, power generation, and grid connection in 2020. This technological foundation aligns with Porrima’s commercial goals for island applications, creating the opportunity for this collaboration.

Huang also noted that YC Synergy, as a domestic hydrogen system manufacturer, is taking the lead by integrating top-tier local and international supply chains. This collaboration will help local component manufacturers gradually upgrade and transform, complementing Taiwan and the global hydrogen supply chain and jointly securing international market orders.

Original article from the Commercial Times: Link to Article