Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies in Maritime Transportation

Prof. Dr. Can Ozgur Colpan received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Middle East Technical University in 2003 and 2005, respectively. He conducted his Ph.D. studies at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, between 2005 and 2009. He continued his studies as a post-doctoral researcher at the same department between 2009 and 2010 and at the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department of Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, between 2010 and 2012. He has worked at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Dokuz Eylül University since 2012. In 2014 and 2019, he was appointed Associate Professor and Professor, respectively. Dr. Çolpan has conducted research in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen and the mathematical modeling of integrated energy systems. His areas of research include modeling of direct internal reforming solid oxide fuel cells, material development and mathematical modeling for direct methanol fuel cells, development of high-temperature PEM fuel cells, simulation and optimization of the fuel cell vehicle powertrains, catalytic dehydrogenation of solid hydrogen storage materials, analysis of organic Rankine cycle based systems, and analysis of biofuel fueled turbojet. He has worked as chairman, technical chair, and organizing committee member for many conferences. He serves as a Board Member for the Turkish Hydrogen Technology Association and an Advisory Board Member with the TÜBİTAK Efficiency Challenge. In 2019, he won the Turkish Academy of Sciences Outstanding Young Scientist Award (TUBA-GEBIP) and METU Professor Dr. Mustafa N. Parlar Education and Research Foundation’s Research Encouragement Award.

Suleyman Aykut Korkmaz, Ph.D., is an experienced marine engineering researcher. He received his bachelor’s degree in 2009 from the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department of the Istanbul Technical University, where he was also awarded the Certificate of Competency in Ocean Going Watchkeeping Engineering. He received his master’s and Ph.D. from Dokuz Eylül University, specializing in Marine Engineering – Maritime Transportation Systems Engineering Program, in 2017 and 2023, respectively. Dr. Korkmaz works as a Research Assistant with the Maritime Faculty in the Department of Marine Engineering at Dokuz Eylul University and as a Research Fellow in the Department of Civil, Maritime, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southampton. His research has predominantly delved into fuel cell system modeling, energy management strategies for marine vessels, thermodynamic and economic evaluations of waste heat recovery systems aboard marine vessels, hydrogen production technologies, utilization of fuel cell and battery hybrid technologies on vessels, and techno-economic assessments of renewable and sustainable energy technologies for ships. As a Board Member, Dr. Korkmaz has contributed to the UCTEA Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Naval Architectures and Marine Engineers, underlining his commitment to professional engagement.

Olgun Konur, Ph.D., received his bachelor’s degree from the Marine Engineering Department of Dokuz Eylül University in 2011. He worked as a marine engineer in merchant ships for three years. He received his master’s and Ph.D. from the Maritime Faculty in the Marine Transportation Systems Engineering program at Dokuz Eylül University in 2016 and 2021, respectively. He has worked at the Department of Marine Engineering of Dokuz Eylül University since 2015 and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2023. His research mainly focuses on the thermodynamic and economic assessment of waste heat recovery systems on marine vessels, energy efficiency on ships, seawater cooling systems for solar power systems, exergetic sustainability assessment on ship energy systems, operation of marine vessels, ammonia-engine-based ship propulsion systems, the utilization of fuel cell and battery hybrid configurations onboard, and PEM fuel cells. He serves as a Board Member in the UCTEA Chamber of Marine Engineers Izmir Branch.