Fuel cell technology at Honolulu

Hydrogen researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have joined with several partners in a new project to develop a portable, self-contained hydrogen fuel cell unit that can float on a barge, sit on a dock or be transported to wherever it’s needed to provide electrical power.

Sandia’s project manager, Joe Pratt, said that the unit will fit inside a 20ft shipping container and will consist of four 30kW fuel cells, a hydrogen storage system and power conversion equipment.

It will be delivered to the port and deployed by Young Brothers, Ltd, one of the project partners and a subsidiary of Foss Maritime Company, a shipping firm that has strong environmental and financial interests in the project.

The unit is currently undergoing detailed engineering and design through until mid 2014 and will be operational during a six-month deployment in early 2015.

Following its six-month deployment, Mr Pratt said the project team will analyse the project’s operating and cost parameters needed to make a business case at other ports.

The long term aim, he said, is to develop a commercial-ready technology that can be widely used at other ports. The project team sees a strong market need and desire for a fuel cell solution, not only at maritime ports but also for other applications, such as providing power to users that are not connected to an electric grid.

The Hawaii project is jointly sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and by the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).