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MODULARIS Platform, from the German Aerospace Center, will be used to test hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, batteries, automation, and drones on trips of up to seven days, creating a real development environment for future ship technologies.
Germany has taken a new step to test low-emission ships with MODULARIS, DLR’s floating laboratory whose keel was launched in Flensburg, with 48 meters in length, 11.5 meters in width, and a focus on hydrogen.
Ships will have tests in real conditions
The maritime platform will be used to integrate, evaluate, and prepare future technologies in an operational environment. The goal is to accelerate the development of energy, navigation, and communication systems before certification.
The German Aerospace Center reported that MODULARIS will bring together research on climate-compatible propulsion, autonomous technologies, and applications aimed at safety and defense. The proposal involves government, industry, companies, and startups.
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Hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia enter the center of research
The ship will have an experimental engine room to test alternative fuels, including methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. Fuel cells, batteries, sensors, and automation systems will also be evaluated.
The structure will feature redundant safety and control systems, allowing experiments with equipment not yet certified. This configuration should enhance test safety and reduce steps between laboratory, operation, and certification.
A digital twin, a virtual model of the vessel, will be used for simulations and analyses. The tool will serve to prepare sea trials and complement the development done on board.
Platform will support drones and infrastructure in Kiel
MODULARIS will support unmanned systems, such as drones. The test trips are mainly planned for the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean, with missions of up to seven days.
DLR is expanding its structure in Kiel, at the MaK Campus, with offices, research, and laboratories with direct access to the water. The institution states that the complex reinforces Schleswig-Holstein as a German innovation center.
The keel ceremony included a coin under the first prefabricated steel module, then positioned with millimeter precision.
