Sustainable Engines of the Future

The electrification of machines and transportation has been underway for quite some time, but hydrogen is also set to play a key role in the energy transition. Organizations worldwide are working with teams of engineers and designers to make these solutions both future-proof and economically viable.

As a supplier of generators, engines, parts, and solutions for industrial and maritime markets, NPS Driven is one such organization. Peter van der Heijden has been the managing director, responsible for their activities for 15 years, including those of the subsidiary Xeamos. “We specialize in everything related to propulsion or powertrains, and our in-house R&D team has been working on electrification and hydrogen for quite some time. It’s important to optimize the entire machine, in all its aspects,” he says.

Energy Efficiency

“When it comes to electrification, the key is to use energy as efficiently as possible,” he explains. “Customers come to us because they will soon no longer be allowed to enter cities with their diesel engines. We then work with them to come up with a solution. We install a small box, and over the course of several weeks or months, we analyze the relevant data. This often leads to surprising insights and solutions.”

Exclusive Distributor

In addition to maritime and industrial applications, NPS Driven offers a complete range of services, including design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Peter adds: “We aim to be a supplier of total concepts.” For more than 35 years, they have been the exclusive distributor of John Deere in the Benelux, France, Germany, and Iceland. Over time, they have also developed their own products. One such product is Zenoro, a brand of premium generators for the maritime sector, specifically designed for luxury yachts, a true niche market. “We design in 3D, assemble, test, and deliver the product directly to the shipyard. Another in-house product is Xeamos, a line of advanced emission-reducing exhaust systems. Additionally, we have been working on developing our own hydrogen engine for the past three years.”

High Emissions

The emissions in the maritime sector are significant, so replacing old diesel engines is not a simple task. With their Xeamos products, they can bring these older engines up to modern emission standards, advancing them 30 years in one step. Fine particulate matter is reduced by over 90%, while around 80% of nitrogen oxides are removed from the exhaust gases by the catalyst. “These are significant steps forward. We see the hydrogen engine as the logical next step because, in addition to addressing nitrogen oxides, it also solves the CO2 problem. From an economic perspective, we expect this to be feasible in about two years.”