Icelandic Hydrogen Awarded Autodesk Inventor of the Month in October for Contributions to Fuel-Cell Technology

Autodesk Inventor Key to Development of Hydrogen-Equipped Commercial Vessel.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif - Icelandic Hydrogen used Autodesk Inventor software from Autodesk, Inc, to design a complete on-board hydrogen energy system that powers the auxiliary engine for one of Iceland's largest whale-watching vessels, enabling it to generate the electricity on board with clean, sustainable energy rather than oil. For its groundbreaking example of how ships can reduce their environmental impact, the Iceland-based hydrogen fuel cell company has been named the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for October 2009.

Most shipping vessels are propelled exclusively by oil. Since hydrogen can be made from water alone -- and water vapor is its only by-product when burned -- hydrogen fuel cells represent a more environmentally friendly option than traditional combustion engines.

As part of the SMART-H2 project managed by the public-private company Icelandic New Energy Ltd, Icelandic Hydrogen developed its hydrogen energy system for The Elding -- a 130-ton, 150-passenger ship that serves as the flagship vessel for Iceland's largest whale-watching operation.

"Inventor software was invaluable for testing the strength of the various parts to make sure that they could safely withstand the pressure that would be put on them," said Hallmar Halldors, chief executive officer of Icelandic Hydrogen. "Digital Prototyping enabled us to fine-tune an accurate 3D model of the energy system before incurring any production costs and without compromising the safety of those involved in the project or on board the ship."

The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk Inventor software, which takes users beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping. With Inventor software, users can create a single digital model that gives them the ability to design, visualize and simulate products before they are built to reduce the necessity of constructing physical prototypes.

Icelandic Hydrogen also used AutoCAD Electrical software to create piping and instrumentation diagrams for the hydrogen system, seamlessly switching to Autodesk Inventor software to visualize and analyze the storage tanks, enclosures, tubing and other components.

The company was able to complete the project in just under seven months, helping to bring a viable hydrogen energy system to the open seas without any delay -- an important point for a country exploring the possibilities of converting its entire transport system to hydrogen by 2050 and having an economy run only on locally sourced renewable energy.

"Digitally simulating the real-world performance of your product before anything is built saves time and money," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president, Manufacturing Industry Group at Autodesk. "Icelandic Hydrogen exemplifies the ways in which Inventor software helps companies innovate faster and smarter."