Small Fast Multi-Use Hydrogen Fuel Cell Harbor Craft
Developing a marine hydrogen fuel cell powertrain to power a passenger/patrol vessel.
Zero Emission Industries, Inc.
Recipient
South San Francisco, CA
Recipient Location
13th
Senate District
21st
Assembly District
$1,806,395
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
As of summer of 2024, the Small Fast Multi-Use Hydrogen Fuel Cell Harbor Craft project has concluded the Design, Build, and Validation & Testing phases of the project. The innovative hydrogen fueling solutions developed through the project, which include a portable system for regulating gaseous hydrogen fills, are being leveraged to fuel the fuel cell harbor craft throughout its demonstration in Northern and Southern California. In Q3-Q4 of 2024, the project team will publicly demonstrate the fuel cell harbor craft, inviting members of the public to experience hydrogen fuel cells in a fast, compact maritime use case. The project is set to conclude in Q1 of 2025.
The Issue
More than one million marine vessels operate in California that continue to rely on combustion engines for power, contributing to carbon and criteria pollutant emissions. Over 98 percent of the vessels operating in California are under 40 feet long and require small and compact powertrains. The light-duty vehicle market has proven the capability of hydrogen to meet the performance of combustion engine vehicles, but the cost of hydrogen production, distribution, and infrastructure remain high due to low fuel demand. Introducing hydrogen as a marine fuel can help reach economies of scale and reduce hydrogen costs, but proven marine-specific hydrogen fuel cell technology solutions are needed.
Project Innovation
This project is developing a marine hydrogen fuel cell powertrain to power a passenger/patrol vessel. The project is optimizing the fuel cell stack operating conditions to achieve desired performance, efficiency, and lifetime through intelligent load sharing, use of energy storage, and balance of plant control. Hull performance is being maintained by optimizing the arrangement and integration of the fuel cell system and onboard hydrogen storage. A portable refueling method is being developed to enable the vessel to be fueled with hydrogen sourced from existing retail stations, avoiding the need for siting shoreside infrastructure. The researchers are demonstrating the completed vessel over a six-month demonstration shared between the San Francisco Bay Area and Long Beach.
Project Goals
Design, engineer, and demonstrate a small fast H2FC vessel
Design and build a fueling system that can be applied to hydrogen powertrains across multiple industries
Improve the accessibility to hydrogen fueling infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell marine vessels
Validate the safety, reliability, and efficiency of H2FC harbor craft by collecting real world demonstration data
Project Benefits
This project will help displace diesel and gasoline consumption for small vessels with hydrogen, resulting in air pollutant and greenhouse gas emission reductions. As the gas system evolves to potentially support clean hydrogen conveyance in the future, the marine sector could be an important end-use to target. Increasing hydrogen demand from small marine vessels will lead to increases in hydrogen production and distribution capacity, reducing the cost of hydrogen across multiple sectors. This project will also advance the state of hydrogen fuel cell technology for harbor craft in support of forthcoming zero-emission requirements under the California Air Resources Board's proposed Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation modifications.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability
Air pollutant and greenhouse gas emission reductions through displaced diesel and gasoline consumption and advancements in the state of hydrogen fuel cell technology for harbor craft in support of CARB's Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation
Affordability
Affordability
Reduced cost of hydrogen through increased demand from small marine vessels
Key Project Members
Joe Pratt
CEO
Zero Emission Industries
Ricky Elder
Chief of Staff
Zero Emission Industries
Subrecipients
University of California, Irvine
Ocean5 Inc. dba Ocean5 Naval Architects
Match Partners
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Zero Emission Industries, Inc.
Ocean5 Inc. dba Ocean5 Naval Architects
