The hydrogen gas flows into a fuel cell, combines with oxygen and is converted into water, in the process producing electricity. The only emission from a fuel cell is water, which forms a vapour cloud as it leaves the exhaust and enters the atmosphere.
But unlike a battery, a fuel cell does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied.
Fuel cells can be made in a range of sizes.
They can be used to produce quite small amounts of electric power, for devices such as portable computers or radio transmitters, right up to very high powers for electric power stations.
It is possible that we will see port equipment powered by fuel cell technology, but this is a long way off according to industry sources.
Conventional compression ignition engines will be around for many years, running on advanced combustion modes and using clean fuels such as a blend of diesel and the ultra-clean additive, dimethyl ether (DME), produced from renewable sources such as natural gas, coal, biomass. – or even liquid hydrogen.
