A startup has found a way to inject hydrogen into cargo ships, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by more than 20%. The system, developed by Newlight, can be fitted in under two weeks and has already completed a 8,500-nautical-mile trip from Singapore to Ghana, where it cut fuel use by 24% and CO2 emissions by 28%.

The company's hybrid system constantly monitors the diesel engine and injects the hydrogen at optimal moments, making real-time adjustments to the engine's fuel flow. Co-founder Haran Cohen Hillel says being onboard during the test voyage was a milestone, impressed by the system's smooth operation and its ability to deliver on their projections.

Newlight has raised $9 million in funding and signed agreements to install its hydrogen injection system on 12 vessels across multiple companies, with broader rollouts planned for next year. While other companies are exploring fuel injection methods with ammonia or methanol, Newlight claims its setup is more efficient and requires fewer engine modifications.

With climate change pushing the maritime industry to rethink its energy sources, hydrogen injection may just be the fuel-saving solution that cargo ships have been looking for. But as Evyatar Cohen puts it: 'It’s not about beating Vin Diesel, it’s about reducing fuel use.'