Capable of zero-emissions operations, the vessel will have a new hydrogen-hybrid propulsion system composed of hydrogen fuel cells and a conventional diesel-electric power plant.
Designed for the Univeristy of California (UC) San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography by Seattle-based naval architecture and design firm Glosten, the ship design is scaled so the ship will be able to operate 75% of its missions entirely using hydrogen. For longer missions, diesel generators will provide extra power.
The 46-m vessel will be equipped with advanced instruments and sensing systems, along with state-of-the-art laboratories, enabling multidisciplinary research, advancing understanding of the physical and biological processes active in California’s coastal oceans.
“ABS is proud to pioneer the development of hydrogen as marine fuel technology with these partners in a project that has the potential to make a significant contribution to the understanding of our oceans. This project will be closely watched by the industry as it breaks new ground and demonstrates the capabilities of this promising alternative fuel at sea,” said ABS chief executive Christopher J Wiernicki.
Underpinned by government policy, hydrogen and fuel cells are gaining momentum in the clean energy transition, with one of the latest and largest boosts coming from the US.
Signed into law by President Biden in August, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 creates a new clean hydrogen production tax credit, aimed at spurring private investment in green hydrogen.
The law follows passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Creation Act last year. That bill includes US$8Bn for development of large-scale regional green hydrogen hubs, US$1Bn for hydrogen electrolysis R&D, and US$500M for hydrogen manufacturing and recycling. Additionally, the US Government is directed to develop a national hydrogen roadmap and strategy. Part of that will be reducing costs. Through its Hydrogen Energy Earth Shot, the US Department of Energy is pushing to reduce the cost of green hydrogen by 80% by the end of the decade to US$1 per kilogram.
Maritime, one of the hard-to-abate sectors, will be one of the beneficiaries of the legislation and subsequent investment in the development of a green hydrogen infrastructure and supply chain.
Source: rivieramm
