Unveiling Hydrogen’s Potential in Maritime Avenues
In a groundbreaking initiative, Hornblower Energy LLC has joined forces with the Port of San Francisco, the U.S. Department of Energy, and six notable corporate associations, such as Air Liquide and Glosten. Their collective purpose? To evaluate the possibility of harnessing hydrogen as a maritime fuel via their pioneering scheme, the Waterfront Maritime Hydrogen Demonstration Project.
From the initial stages of establishing a strategic blueprint, the project has morphed into a meticulous series of demonstrations. The long-term vision is to lay the groundwork for maritime hydrogen production, storage, and over-water fueling while setting in motion a green hydrogen ecosystem within the San Francisco Bay Area, with a hopeful knock-on effect across America.
The Green Power Revolution
Emphasizing sustainability, the Waterfront Maritime Hydrogen Demonstration Project will be leveraging hydroelectric power sourced from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Furthermore, the project plans to fashion a novel hydrogen barge, the first of its kind, to refuel vessels over water.
In the wake of the annual update presented by Hornblower in June 2023, it was revealed that the project had successfully navigated through several milestones. Even with the setbacks created by inflation-related budget constraints and the increased costs triggered by elongated supply lead times, the report acknowledged satisfactory progress in its design and execution.
An Unprecedented Approach to H2 Utilization
Potential hydrogen consumers, like the novel vessel Sea Change that is expected to be the primary hydrogen ferry, could immensely benefit from this project. Other potential consumers comprise the Hornblower hybrid vessel Discover Zero, hydrogen gas tube trailers, and the San Francisco Airport.
Despite some of the project reports being proprietary, the Hornblower project is being designed adhering to NFPA 2, following guidelines for the safe production, installation, storage, and usage of hydrogen. Richard Berman, an executive with the San Francisco Port who is also on the project team, stated that the utilization of hydrogen is not a revolutionary concept in California, given its usage in hydrogen automobiles.
Identifying the Regulatory Path
The year 2023 denotes a significant turning point for the project. Navigating through a maze of 12 regulatory agencies, project leaders have acquired a test hydrogen refueling platform and a permit from the local Fire Marshal. Additional approvals will require continued cooperation with entities ranging from the Port itself to the Army Corp, National Marine Fisheries, and the Coast Guard.
Venturing into Unchartered Territory
Dave Lee, Vice President of Innovation and Technology at Maritime Partners LLC, a maritime leasing and financing firm, elaborates on the industry’s receptivity to hydrogen as a fuel substitute. Acknowledging the potential challenges of integrating hydrogen into a vessel’s systems, Lee confirmed a keen interest in hydrogen among several companies, including his own.
As society becomes more environmentally conscious, the maritime industry is no exception in exploring alternative fuel options. Although various alternative fuels such as ammonia, methane, and biofuels have been evaluated, hydrogen indeed appears to be leading the race towards a sustainable future.
An industry once reliant on fuel oil and diesel is now witnessing an extraordinary shift towards environmental sustainability. As the Waterfront Maritime Hydrogen Demonstration Project propels forward, the maritime community looks on in anticipation, eager to usher in a new era of sustainable seas.
