Next planned step: first onboard installation and port testing
Newlight has announced the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of its hydrogen retrofit system for two-stroke and four-stroke main engines: a technology that enables greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions, marking an important step forward from the prototype to ship installation. The FAT involved the verification of all safety, control and monitoring aspects, electrical integration and engine behavior under real operating conditions.
The system, designed and built in compliance with the IGF Code – International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels -, as well as validated according to RINA class rules for hydrogen-powered ships, allows existing diesel engines to operate with a mixture of hydrogen and conventional fuel, reducing CO₂ emissions without having to replace the entire engine.
From land-based tests to open-sea trials, Newlight has demonstrated the system’s effectiveness on a four-stroke engine used as a generator set and on a two-stroke engine used as the main propulsion for a yacht. The results confirmed an improvement in efficiency and a reduction in emissions, with stable performance even in sea conditions and under variable loads. In particular, Newlight validated the precision of the hydrogen mixture injection timing, the constant response to loads, and the continuous monitoring of thermal and emission parameters, in addition to an immediate and smooth switch between conventional fuel and hydrogen, ensuring regular performance without operational interruptions.
In collaboration with lomarlabs, Lomar and AURELIA, Newlight’s solution is ready to be installed on a ship, with all interfaces defined, layouts optimized and approvals issued according to class rules. In fact, with the completion of the FAT, Newlight is now preparing for the next phase: the Harbor Acceptance Test (HAT), which will be conducted under the supervision of RINA during the system commissioning on the first ship.
Haran Cohen Hillel, Co-founder and CEO of Newlight, stated: «This milestone demonstrates that our hydrogen systems perform exactly as a ship operator expects: consistent responses and wide safety margins, with tangible benefits in terms of efficiency. Shipowners will be able to immediately reduce consumption and emissions, without downtime and without sacrificing performance. The system was designed to be installed in real engine rooms, now it is ready to move from the factory to ships».
Evyatar Cohen, co-founder of Newlight, stated: «We are particularly proud of the robustness of our control and safety system. Every stage – from venting to injection – is validated, recorded and managed in a fully recoverable manner. Shipowners can rely on intuitive modes, an immediate switch to conventional fuel and a retrofit that integrates seamlessly into existing machinery, without structural modifications to the ship».
Patrizio Di Francesco, North Europe Special projects manager and Principal Engineer at RINA, commented: «Given the FAT results, I can state that the solution has proven to be robust and designed with a clear focus on safety aspects.
Its detection, ventilation, segregation, and shutdown functions are fully in line with the safety objectives established by the IGF Code. The success of this phase represents a significant step towards the realization of fully integrated hydrogen systems, capable of meeting the rigorous requirements of maritime operations and international regulatory frameworks.
Stylianos Papageorgiou, general manager of lomarlabs, added: «Newlight perfectly embodies the spirit of lomarlabs: bringing innovative solutions onto ships, accelerating the testing phase in concrete operational conditions. We offer operators access to expertise, experience, and a fleet to quickly transform technology from concept to reality».
Raffaele Frontera, CEO of AURELIA, concluded: «Newlight’s technology stands out for its innovation and robustness. Our contribution focused on engineering integration – interfaces, layout, cabling, and commissioning plans – to make the package immediately installable on board. It was a team effort that united multiple entities with a single goal, and the results speak for themselves».
The maritime sector is accelerating the transition towards low-emission systems, seeking concrete solutions to reduce the environmental impact of existing fleets without compromising their operability. With the validation of the retrofit according to the IGF Code and RINA class rules, Newlight offers shipowners an immediately applicable technology to power engines already in service with hydrogen mixtures. This approach makes it possible to extend the life of ships, avoid the complete replacement of propulsion systems, and achieve immediate fuel savings, while the supply chains for green fuels are being developed. With the HAT and the first installation now imminent, Newlight aims to make system integration replicable and scalable thanks to standardized interfaces, clear documentation, and rapid commissioning procedures that reduce shipyard times.
