Sandia National Laboratories researcher Joe Pratt stands near the Port of Oakland, one of the west coast ports he studied to learn whether hydrogen fuel cells are a viable power source for docked ships. (Photo by Steffan Schulz)
Providing auxiliary hydrogen power to docked or anchored ships may soon be added to the list of ways in which hydrogen fuel cells can provide efficient, emissions-free energy.
Hydrogen fuel cells are already powering mobile lighting systems, forklifts, emergency backup systems and light-duty trucks, among other applications. Now, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have found that hydrogen fuel cells may be both technically feasible and commercially attractive as a clean, quiet and efficient power source for ships at berth, replacing on-board diesel generators.
The Sandia study was completed for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
Auxiliary power to docked ships, usually provided by on-board diesel engines, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, accounting for one-third to one-half of the in-port emissions attributed to ocean-going vessels. According to a 2004 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, average daily emissions for a busy port could exceed the total emissions from nearly 500,000 vehicles.
Evaluating fuel cell barges at western U.S. ports
The study evaluated a simple fuel cell strategy that consists of mounting a hydrogen-fueled proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell on a floating barge. Supplying a container ship with average power and run times (1.4 megawatts over 48 hours) requires four 40-ft containers, two for the fuel cell and two for hydrogen fuel storage, which could readily fit on a typical flat-top barge. For ships requiring less power, such as tugboats, a single container housing both the fuel cell and hydrogen will suffice, according to the Sandia study.
To evaluate the feasibility of the fuel cell barge strategy and analyze potential deployment options, Sandia’s Joe Pratt visited ports up and down the West Coast and in Hawaii. He gathered data from two U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration facilities and the ports of Long Beach, Calif., Los Angeles, Calif., Oakland, Calif., Portland, Ore., Tacoma, Wash., Honolulu, Hawaii and Seattle, Wash.
“While Sandia has previously examined the potential for hydrogen and fuel cells in other applications, this is the first study of a maritime environment,” Pratt said.
Cheaper, cleaner than grid-based “cold-ironing”
A common alternative to auxiliary diesel engines is a practice called “cold-ironing,” in which a vessel at berth connects to a source of electricity on the shore. (The engine, made of steel or iron, literally becomes cold, hence the name.) Electricity supplied by a hydrogen fuel cell thus could become a new form of cold-ironing.
The U.S. Navy has been employing grid-based cold-ironing for many years to save fuel. Ports in California are now turning to the practice to meet the state’s environmental regulations. While only a few berths have grid-based cold-ironing, ports throughout California are installing infrastructure to meet the state Air Resources Board’s regulations that take effect in 2014.
But grid-based cold-ironing is complex and costly, and most ports lack the infrastructure needed to meet the power needs of multiple ships at berth. Those costs can run up to $5-10 million or more per berth, said Pratt. The Port of Oakland is installing 11 berths on six terminals at an estimated cost of about $70 million.
In addition, switching to grid-based power doesn’t eliminate emissions. Instead, that approach shifts the emissions to the source of electricity. Depending on the electricity source, the overall reduction in emissions can be relatively small.
Many potential deployment options, economic benefits
The hydrogen fuel cell barge bypasses the need for electrical infrastructure. The barge also has the capability of being moved from berth to berth as needed and to anchorage points to power vessels that are waiting for berths.
The Latest Bing News on:
Hydrogen fuel cells
- Shell to Trial First Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Ships In Singaporeon April 22, 2021 at 9:35 am
Shell will collaborate on a feasibility study to trial the use of hydrogen fuel cells for ships, the first of its kind for Shell and in Singapore. If successful, it would help pave the way for cleaner ...
- Hyundai Expands NEXO Fuel Cell SUV Availability In San Diego County at Hyundai Escondidoon April 22, 2021 at 9:23 am
As California continues to lead the nation in clean air initiatives, Hyundai fuels the advancement of sustainable mobility and zero emissions solutions with its NEXO fuel cell SUV, now available at ...
- Viewpoint: Texas can be a hydrogen winneron April 22, 2021 at 9:19 am
Folks in West Texas decided there was a win for them in wind. Today, Texas produces more electricity from wind than any other state. Fracking opened Texas reserves of natural gas when the world wanted ...
- Nikola Spikes on Plan for California Hydrogen Filling Stationson April 22, 2021 at 9:12 am
Nikola shares jumped after the electric-truck maker agreed to install two hydrogen filling stations at California locations of TravelCenters of America.
- Universal Hydrogen Announces $20.5M in Series A Funding to Build and Test Full-Scale Hardware for Hydrogen Commercial Aircrafton April 22, 2021 at 9:04 am
Universal Hydrogen, the company fueling carbon-free flight, today announced its $20.5M Series A financing round led by prominent Silicon Valley venture fund, Playground Global, with the investor ...
- Universal Hydrogen raises $20.5M Series A to help launch hydrogen aviationon April 22, 2021 at 9:00 am
The race to decarbonize aviation got a boost this Earth Day with the announcement of a $20.5 million Series A round by Universal Hydrogen, a San Francisco-based startup aiming to develop hydrogen ...
- Nikola shares surge on hydrogen fuel station plans with TravelCenters of Americaon April 22, 2021 at 7:02 am
The plans include installing hydrogen fueling stations for heavy-duty trucks at two sites in California as "a first step" in exploring a nationwide network.
- Shell to trial hydrogen fuel cells for ships in Singaporeon April 22, 2021 at 4:06 am
The company will charter both the trial vessel and the hydrogen fuel provider. Shell, together with other partners, will collaborate on a feasibility study to trial the use of hydrogen fuel cells for ...
- Shell, Sembmarine, Penguin Plan Hydrogen Fuel Cell Test in Sngaporeon April 21, 2021 at 11:08 am
A partnership of companies is planning a fist of its kind feasibility study to test the use of hydrogen fuel cells on an operational supply ship in Singapore. The collaboration will involve Shell ...
- Shell to trial use of hydrogen fuel cells for ships in Singaporeon April 20, 2021 at 11:19 pm
Royal Dutch Shell said on Wednesday it was conducting a feasibility study with partners to trial the use of hydrogen fuel cells for ships in Singapore, the first such move for the oil major.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Hydrogen fuel cells
The Latest Bing News on:
Hydrogen fuel cell barge
- Hydrogen is powering transportation everywhereon April 20, 2021 at 10:02 pm
Fuel cells utilize hydrogen to produce electricity through a chemical process without combustion. The key benefits of hydrogen fuel for transport are that it offers similar refueling times and driving ...
- Lürssen’s First Zero-Emission, Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Superyacht Is Coming in 2025on April 20, 2021 at 2:00 pm
The German shipyard has just announced the sale of its first superyacht to be powered by hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The yard’s managing partner Peter Lürssen recently revealed the news during ...
- Hydrogen Tube Trailerson April 7, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Railcars, ships, and barges can also be used to deliver hydrogen as a compressed gas or cryogenic liquid, or within novel liquid or solid carrier materials. 1 These methods are currently uncommon and ...
- French Group to Launch World’s First Commercial Hydrogen Cargo Vesselon April 7, 2021 at 11:37 am
The vessel, which will be a pallet shuttle barge measuring 164 feet in length ... and Innovation Program Horizon 2020, under the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), to deploy ...
- Hydrogen Fueling Station Market Key Indicators, SWOT Analysis, Current Scenario, Industry Size & Share, Growth Factors and Business Opportunitieson April 1, 2021 at 1:28 am
Others ), By Application ( Hydrogen Tube Trailers, Tanker Trucks, Pipeline Delivery, Railcars and Barges, Others ) and regional forecast 2020-2027”. The report identifies key drivers ...
- Defiance ETFs: Ballard Leaps Forward In 2021on March 25, 2021 at 7:40 am
But hydrogen fuel cells can provide a solution ... including the development of fuel-cell-powered barges, ferries and cruise ships. Additionally, the company produces megawatt-scale stationary ...
- Op/Ed: All Hands On Deck to Tackle Decarbonization Todayon March 22, 2021 at 8:41 am
Additionally, the arrangement, layout and operational profile of the North American tug and barge ... for hydrogen and ammonia are being developed, LNG can be used with fuel cells in the meantime ...
- Hydrogen Aircraft Market to Garner $174.02 Billion by 2040on March 10, 2021 at 2:13 am
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train Market by Application (Passenger ... Pipeline Delivery and Railcars & Barges): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021–2030. Hydrogen-Powered Yacht ...
- Hydrogen Aircraft Market to Garner $174.02 Billion by 2040on March 10, 2021 at 2:08 am
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Train Market by Application (Passenger Train and Freight ... Pipeline Delivery and Railcars & Barges): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021–2030. Hydrogen-Powered ...
- Hydrogen Deliveryon August 16, 2020 at 10:07 pm
Today, hydrogen is transported from the point of production to the point of use via pipeline, over the road in cryogenic liquid tanker trucks or gaseous tube trailers, or by rail or barge ... Hydrogen ...