First Hydrogen Fuel Cell e-Ferry Under Construction in SF Bay brings Joy to a Committed Futurist

I have posted recently about a Danish built battery-electric powered ferry. I was amazed at the huge interest it generated. I rarely devote much time to writing about low carbon maritime projects as I am very much The EV Man, although I do track them. But when you think about which transport modes generate most CO2, maritime activity is right up there as one of the big, bad guys, so let me explore this sector a wee bit further.

Hydrogen power has some strong technical and operational advantages, so as a professionally qualified Transportation Planner I must be energy-source agnostic, just to be fair. So, let me introduce you to the First Hydrogen Fuel Cell e-Ferry Under Construction in SF Bay. Let me quote from switchmaritime.com:- "SWITCH’s San Francisco e-ferry will act as the flagship vessel for its fleet, an important first step in a concerted effort to curb transportation emissions while mitigating roadway congestion in the largest urban centers across the country.   The 84-passenger e-ferry is currently under construction at the Bay Ship & Yacht shipyard in Alameda, CA using private funding from SW/TCH and a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The project leverages technology from partners including Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, BAE Systems, and Hydrogenics.

Scaling this zero-emission technology will only be possible with significant investment in new fueling infrastructure and SWITCH is partnering with Clean Marine Energy (CME) to develop electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure onshore. Backed by the same founders, CME plans to make clean fueling infrastructure available in multiple ports in the US. " Well this floating Lady sure looks kool to me! Here she is nestling under her local world famous landmark.

This sweet, water-baby is set for completion by September 2019. The next step will be a three-month trial in the San Francisco Bay, also to act as a flagship for SWITCH’s future fleet. According to electrive.com technical details of the Water Go Round ferry include two electric motors by BAE Systems with a performance of 300 kW each for a top speed which will be around 22 knots (about 40 kph). The tanks will hold up to 264 kg of hydrogen, which is enough to run the ferry for two days straight, according to the manufacturers. For refilling the tanks, SW/TCH is partnering with Clean Marine Energy (CME) to develop electric charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure onshore.

Apart from SWITCH and GGZEM, the project is backed by the Sandia National Laboratories to support the research specifically. The R&D facility funded by the US Department of energy will be gathering data regarding the hydrogen ferry in a real-world scenario. Also, the California Air Resources Board, which is supporting the construction efforts with three million dollars, aims to verify whether the technology is scalable to longer ranges, using the data collected.

I count my self lucky to be living and working on market transformational transport projects in Scotland which is one of the world's leading adopters of hydrogen as power source. The city of Aberdeen has it's new exhibition centre powered by Doosan Babcock HFCs, there is a hydrogen powered bus service running to Stonehaven while new low-carbon transport refuelling hubs include hydrogen. Mean while the Scottish outer islands recognise the potential of hydrogen to store energy generated by wind to power not only ferries but HGV,s cars plus to heat and power local facilities and housing. The Orkney Surf & Turf program is one such initiative:-

A decade ago we designed the LED relight for the Hyundai HFC vehicle PDI centre at the Port of Tilbury on Thames outside London for Forth Ports facility managers. When I mentioned HFC cars I was greeted with that odd look you get when people think you have "been smoking!" No, really I would say, you can buy a hydrogen powered car right now. They would shake their head and think, "sad about that guy Ash...." This is the fate of the visionary, the early adopter and The Futurist. I have always been a Futurist and wrote my architectural thesis on Antonio Sant'Elia a man who built nothing but who inspired generations of architects with his industrial vision.

My plea to government, investment institutions, smart city planners, and transport planners all over the globe is to wake up to the possibilities and benefits of hydrogen. I have a powerful mentor, once the chairman of one the world's most powerful automotive OEMs but now the non-executive chairman of the world's most advanced hydrogen electrolyser companies. Even fossil fuel magaliths are waking up to the potential of hydrogen. Let me whisper this wee secret into your shell-like.....

As wir Bob once sang, "The times they are a-changin'!" Bring em on, "Big Boab" Gaeon yersel with a hydrogen kick in your sprightly gait. "Steppin'lightly off we go......"