Newlight Uses Hydrogen Injection Technology to Cut Cargo Ship Emissions

A startup called Newlight is developing a hydrogen-injection system designed to improve cargo ship efficiency by reducing fuel consumption and emissions from existing diesel engines.

The San Francisco Bay Area-based company has created a retrofit technology that injects compressed hydrogen into marine engines while continuously monitoring engine conditions. Newlight says the system can be installed in less than two weeks without requiring a vessel to enter dry dock, allowing shipping operators to upgrade existing fleets without major modifications.

According to the startup, its technology works by analysing engine performance in real time and adjusting hydrogen flow based on factors such as exhaust temperature, combustion pressure and air intake pressure. The company says this process allows diesel engines to use less fuel while maintaining normal operation.

Hydrogen retrofit targets shipping emissions.

Newlight recently completed what it described as its first long-range commercial voyage using the system. The technology was installed on a 650-foot Lomar Shipping bulk carrier that travelled approximately 8,500 nautical miles from Singapore to Ghana.

The company said the month-long voyage showed a 24% reduction in fuel consumption and a 28% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Newlight co-founder and CEO Haran Cohen Hillel said testing the system in real operating conditions demonstrated how the technology performed outside laboratory environments.

The startup was founded by Hillel and Evyatar Cohen, who previously worked in the Israeli Navy. Their experience and the company’s shipping-focused approach helped Newlight secure a $9 million seed funding round.

The investment included support from Lomarlabsbs, the venture arm of Lomar Shipping, BIRD Energy, a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of Energy and Israel’s Ministry of Energy, along with deep tech investors Undeterred Capital, CiRi Ventures,s and Fusion VC.

Newlight expands hydrogen technology plans.

Newlight said it has signed agreements to deploy its hydrogen injection system on 12 vessels across multiple companies, with additional fleet deployments planned.

The company is entering a market where other technologies are also being developed to reduce emissions from commercial shipping. Some companies are exploring alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol for marine engines.

Newlight argues that its hydrogen-based approach requires fewer changes to the diesel engines already used across the shipping industry. The company said it plans to remain focused on maritime applications as it scales its technology.

While the company sees opportunities in other transportation and energy sectors, Newlight’s immediate goal is to expand its presence in commercial shipping and increase adoption of its hydrogen injection system.