The shipping industry doesn’t have decades to wait for a clean energy transition. The time to act is now. While the debate rages on about future fuels, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory timelines, one thing is clear: real impact comes from scalable solutions that work today.
That’s exactly why we sat down with Newlight, a company that’s cutting through the noise with hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofits—a technology that slashes fuel consumption and emissions without costly overhauls. Their mission aligns with ours at lomarlabs: turning ambition into action, scaling what works, and proving that decarbonisation is an investment, not just a regulatory hurdle.
In this exclusive Q&A, Newlight’s leadership breaks down:
- Why hydrogen-diesel retrofits are the fastest way to cut emissions today
- How shipowners can reduce fuel costs and stay ahead of regulations
- What’s next for scaling hydrogen solutions in maritime
No speculation. No waiting for the perfect solution. Just bold, practical innovation that moves shipping forward—faster. Let’s dive in.
Q
What drove you to develop hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofits, and why is this the right solution for the shipping industry today?
HCH: At Newlight, we believe that decarbonizing the shipping industry requires practical, scalable solutions that can be implemented now, not decades from today. The idea for hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofits was driven by a simple but powerful realization: waiting for new ships to replace existing fleets is too slow and too costly. The industry needs a way to reduce fuel consumption and emissions without major capital investments or fleet disruptions.
Q
The maritime sector faces pressure to decarbonise, but fleet-wide hydrogen adoption is a long-term challenge. How does Newlight's solution address this gap?
HCH: Hydrogen has enormous potential as a maritime fuel, but transitioning entire fleets to pure hydrogen is a long-term challenge. The industry cannot afford to wait. Newlight’s hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofit offers an immediate, cost-effective solution—cutting fuel use by 20% and reducing emissions without costly overhauls. By taking immediate steps with the current fleet, we can decarbonise ship by ship—delivering real impact today.
Q
Your workshop trials demonstrated fuel savings of up to 30%. What insights from these tests will be critical when scaling up to real-world vessel operations?
HCH: Optimizing hydrogen injection for different engines, ensuring safe onboard storage, and implementing real-time performance monitoring. Ships must also remain operationally flexible, adapting to varying routes and fuel availability.
Q
Why is partnering with lomarlabs a strategic move for Newlight, and how does this collaboration accelerate your mission?
HCH: Partnering with lomarlabs is a game-changer for Newlight. It enables us to rapidly validate, refine, and scale our hydrogen-diesel retrofit technology in real-world maritime operations. lomarlabs brings deep technical expertise, industry connections, and access to a diverse fleet, allowing us to test and optimize our solution under real shipping conditions.
Q
Shipowners are wary of high CapEx solutions. How does Newlight’s technology balance decarbonisation with financial viability?
HCH: By retrofitting existing engines, our system lowers fuel consumption by 20% on average, cutting costs while ensuring compliance with tightening emissions regulations. The dual-fuel flexibility allows ships to use hydrogen when available, avoiding reliance on costly, unproven infrastructure. This low-risk, high-impact approach gives shipowners a practical path to decarbonization, making sustainability both achievable and financially viable—today.
Q
Once the pilot onboard a Lomar vessel is completed, what are the next steps to scaling this technology across the industry?
HCH: We will focus on commercial deployment, expanding installations to additional ships within Lomar’s fleet and other industry partners. Scaling will also involve supply chain optimization to ensure efficient hydrogen availability and seamless retrofit integration across different vessel types.
Q
With IMO decarbonisation targets in place, how do you see regulators influencing the adoption of dual-fuel retrofits?
HCH: With IMO decarbonization targets tightening, stricter EEXI and CII rules push shipowners toward cost-effective compliance like hydrogen-diesel retrofits. Incentives, green financing, and carbon penalties will further accelerate adoption, making retrofits a practical, low-CapEx path to meet regulations now.
Q
Many companies are exploring alternative fuels. What makes Newlight’s hybrid hydrogen-diesel approach stand out?
HCH: Unlike full fuel transitions, Newlight’s retrofit offers a low-CapEx, scalable solution that integrates hydrogen without replacing engines or disrupting operations (no dry docking is needed). Our dual-fuel approach provides immediate fuel savings (20%+) and emissions cuts while allowing ships to use hydrogen when available and diesel when needed.
Q
Looking ahead 5–10 years, how do you see hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofits evolving as maritime fuels transition?
HCH: Over the next 5–10 years, hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofits will play a critical role in maritime decarbonization. As hydrogen infrastructure expands, retrofits will evolve to support higher hydrogen blends, reducing reliance on diesel while ensuring operational flexibility.
Q
For shipowners hesitant about hydrogen adoption, what’s the one thing they need to understand about your solution?
HCH: Shipowners don’t need to commit to a full hydrogen transition to start reducing emissions. Newlight’s hybrid hydrogen-diesel retrofit is a low-risk, low-CapEx solution that works with existing engines, cutting fuel costs and emissions immediately while keeping operational flexibility.
Q
Newlight’s success is driven by the people behind it. What unique expertise does your team bring to developing and scaling hydrogen-diesel retrofits, and how has that shaped your approach?
HCH: Newlight’s success comes from a team that blends deep technical expertise with real-world maritime experience. Our engineers specialize in combustion systems, hydrogen integration, and marine engineering, allowing us to develop a highly efficient, scalable retrofit that works with existing ship engines.
Leading the Charge for Hydrogen-Powered Shipping- The Newlight Founding Team: Fenil Desai, Arjun Chahal, Evyatar Cohen, Haran Cohen Hillel.
