Newlight, a startup based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has developed a hydrogen-injection system designed to retrofit cargo ships and enhance their fuel efficiency. The system, which can be installed in under two weeks without requiring a dry dock, claims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by over 20%, potentially saving vessels up to $500,000 annually in operating costs, according to the company. The technology works by continuously monitoring the ship’s diesel engine and injecting hydrogen fuel at optimal moments, measured down to the millisecond, based on parameters such as exhaust temperature, combustion pressure, and air intake pressure.

Newlight’s hydrogen injection system recently completed its first long-range commercial voyage, an 8,500-nautical-mile trip from Singapore to Ghana on a 650-foot-long Lomar Shipping bulk carrier. During this month-long test, the system reportedly reduced fuel consumption by 24% and carbon dioxide emissions by 28%. The successful trial was described by co-founder and CEO Haran Cohen Hillel as an “emotional moment” and a significant milestone for the company. The promising results, combined with the founders’ background in the Israeli Navy, have helped Newlight secure a $9 million seed round from investors including Lomar Shipping’s venture arm, BIRD Energy, and several deep tech funds. The company has also signed agreements to install its hydrogen injection system on 12 vessels across multiple companies, with plans for broader fleet rollouts in the following year. Newlight positions its hydrogen setup as a leaner alternative to other fuel injection methods, requiring fewer modifications to the diesel engines commonly used in cargo ships. While the founders see potential beyond the marine industry, they intend to focus on scaling within the shipping sector for the time being. Source

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