WASHINGTON, July 26, 2017 - The Energy Department’s (DOE’s) Fuel Cell Technologies Office released a report authored by Sandia National Laboratories detailing the results of a maritime fuel cell generator project. As part of the project, a first-of-its kind hydrogen fuel-cell power generator for marine applications was demonstrated to verify increased energy efficiency at part loads and reduced emissions. The goals of the project were to demonstrate the use of the generator in the maritime environment, identify areas requiring additional research and development, analyze the business case, and address regulatory and other market barriers. A 100-kilowatt generator with 72 kilograms of hydrogen storage was designed and built by Hydrogenics with safety and regulatory reviews by the DOE’s Hydrogen Safety Panel, U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Bureau of Shipping. Project partner Young Brothers operated the generator for 10 months powering refrigerated containers in Honolulu. The project showed that it is possible to increase energy efficiency by up to 30 percent at part load and reduce emissions to zero through the use of hydrogen fuel cells. The project also identified paths forward to wider adoption of the technology in this sector.
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