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
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The Small Fast Multi-Use Hydrogen Fuel Cell Harbor Craft project successfully concluded in Q1 of 2025 including publication of the final report. The vessel and its supporting mobile hydrogen refueling technology was demonstrated in Northern and Southern California with over 100 hours of data collected through system operation. The vessel, renamed to the FCV Vanguard upon launch, achieved top speeds over 50 mph and was able to replicate the routes of four unique example commercial harbor craft use-cases. The refueling technology consisted of the Mobile Hydrogen Refueling Truck serving as a source of hydrogen throughout testing and demonstration, the Fuel Interface Box which regulates a cascade fill and automates safety checks from the refueling truck to the FCV Vanguard, and an Emergency Fuel Tank providing low volume hydrogen for any complete fuel depletion scenarios.
View Final ReportThe 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 developed a marine hydrogen fuel cell powertrain to power a passenger/patrol vessel. The project optimized 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 was maintained by optimizing the arrangement and integration of the fuel cell system and onboard hydrogen storage. A portable refueling method was developed to enable the vessel to be fueled with hydrogen sourced from existing retail stations, avoiding the need for siting shoreside infrastructure. The researchers demonstrated the completed vessel in 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 port decarbonization efforts.
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 port decarbonization efforts.
Affordability
Affordability
Reduced cost of hydrogen through increased demand from small marine vessels and reduced capital cost for hydrogen infrastructure in mobile and remote applications.
Key Project Members
Joe Pratt
CEO
Zero Emission Industries
Ricky Elder
Project Manager
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
