Young Brothers could save fuel and energy while greatly reducing emissions, if it switched primarily to fuel cells
Clean hydrogen power that’s expected to lower emissions and reduce energy consumption will be coming to the Port of Honolulu in 2015 after the completion of a new fuel cell technology demonstration, one that could lead to a commercial technology for ports worldwide.
The work comes on the heels of last year’s study and analysis that confirmed the viability of hydrogen fuel cells to provide auxiliary power to docked or anchored ships. Hydrogen researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have joined with several partners in the follow-up project, which will result in a portable, self-contained hydrogen fuel cell unit that can float on a barge, sit on a dock or be transported to wherever it’s needed to provide electrical power.
Ports have been a major source of water and air pollution in the U.S. but remained relatively unregulated until recent years. As ports have begun to expand and their impact on the environment has become more apparent, port operators face a variety of regulations. Many ports have begun to enact sustainability goals or adopt green practices, and that’s where fuel cells can play a role.
“No one has ever built this kind of custom unit for this purpose,” said Sandia’s project manager, Joe Pratt. The unit, he said, will fit inside a 20-foot shipping container and will consist of four 30-kilowatt fuel cells, a hydrogen storage system and power conversion equipment.
The system will be delivered to and deployed by Young Brothers, Ltd., one of the project partners and a primary shipper of goods throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The unit is undergoing detailed engineering and design through mid-2014 and, after fabrication, assembly and training for Young Brothers operators, will be operational during a six-month deployment in early 2015. Young Brothers, the project’s demonstration partner, is a subsidiary of Foss Maritime Company, a shipping firm that has strong environmental and financial interests in the project.
The Hawaii project is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).
Optimism abounds after earlier study
After conducting a study of various ports in 2013, Sandia analyzed Young Brother’s shipping operations in more detail. Like many operators, the company uses diesel engine generators to provide power to refrigerated containers.
“We compared the efficiencies of their diesel engines versus fuel cells, studied the energy efficiencies at various power levels and estimated the savings and reductions in emissions that would be realized if they were to convert to a fuel cell-powered operation,” said Pratt. Analyses have shown that when generators are frequently producing less than maximum power, such as in the Hawaii application, the efficiency advantage of fuel cells compared to the combustion engine increases, he said.
Though the study had to make some assumptions (the purchase price of hydrogen, for instance), it determined that Young Brothers could save fuel and energy while greatly reducing emissions, if it switched primarily to fuel cells.
The Latest on: Portable hydrogen fuel cell
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Portable hydrogen fuel cell” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Portable hydrogen fuel cell
- OneH2 Launches 931 Bar High-Pressure Tube Trailers for Hydrogen Deliveryon May 9, 2024 at 9:06 am
LONGVIEW, NC / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2024 / North Carolina-based OneH2, Inc. launches new cylinder technology for 931 bar high-pressure hydrogen tube trailers. The cylinder technology, a culmination of ...
- Plug Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Resultson May 9, 2024 at 4:56 am
LATHAM, N.Y., May 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) (the “Company”), a global leader in comprehensive hydrogen solutions for the green hydrogen economy, announced its ...
- Toyota bZ4X: 3 Things to Know About the All-Electric SUV Available in the USon May 6, 2024 at 1:02 am
The most important aspects of the Toyota bZ4X 2024 include its electric efficiency, charging times, interior materials, and digital screens.
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.7% by 2034: Visiongainon May 3, 2024 at 2:40 am
Visiongain has published a new report entitled Hydrogen Fuel Cell Market Report 2024-2034: Forecasts by Application (Stationary Power Generation, Transportation, Portable Devices, Other), by Type ...
- Plug Continues to Expand Cryogenic Sales with Multiple Customer Agreements and International Expansionon May 2, 2024 at 4:25 am
Agreements expand Plug’s reach in cryogenic equipment portfolio across sectorsInternational expansion of cryogenic equipment services with ...
- Hydrogen Fuel Cells Market Size Is Projected To Reach USD 16.41 Billion By 2031 | SNS Insideron April 28, 2024 at 2:15 am
( MENAFN - Evertise Digital) - According to SNS Insider, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell M arket valuation to reach USD 16.41 billion by 2031. The estimated CAGR projected for the forecast period of ...
- 5 New Honda CR-V Features To Be Excited Abouton April 27, 2024 at 3:45 am
T he Honda CR-V is one of the best-selling small SUVs in the world, with the comfortable roundabout vehicle getting the top three position in 2023 after selling over 700,000 units globally. This model ...
- 6 Best Green Hydrogen Stocks and ETFs to Watchon March 5, 2024 at 8:00 am
"Their hydrogen fuel cells can help get these data centers online ... which is particularly beneficial for automotive and portable applications." Investors who want to put some money into the ...
- Toyota’s Cartridge Helps Make Hydrogen Portableon August 2, 2022 at 3:19 am
When used in fuel cells, the only emissions from its ... idea is that the canisters are an easy way to deliver hydrogen energy in a portable format. Unlike liquid fuels, hydrogen can’t easily ...
- Hydrogen on Demandon March 20, 2019 at 9:53 am
We are developing portable hydrogen storage and delivery systems that improve ... Hydrogen Generation via Organic Acid-Promoted Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane for Fuel Cell Applications, (Submitted for ...
via Bing News