Scaling Up Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demand

This past month Maritime Reporter TV has taken a close look at two hydrogen fuel cell projects: the new research vessel planned for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen technology which is being adopted by STAX Engineering for its emissions capture barges.

The Scripps California Coastal Research Vessel will feature a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system that will allow it to operate with no greenhouse gas or other emissions for 75% of its missions – and for all of its time operating in state waters. As the first liquid hydrogen-powered ship in the US, the vessel design required the development of a new regulatory framework.

This is really breaking new ground, said Bruce Appelgate, Associate Director, Scripps Oceanography, but he says: “There's an advantage in that hydrogen has been used industrially a long time in the United States, so there's a very strong safety record. Industrial processes and use for hydrogen are very well known. The trick is in applying that to maritime.”

The e1 Marine and STAX Engineering project is also California-based and involves an onboard system that converts methanol to hydrogen for use in the fuel cells that will power