Jun 5, 2023
This report summarizes activity in the Maritime Fuel Cell (MarFC) Generator Project from 2018 – 2023. A brief review is given of the project background, including its origins, objectives, a description of the MarFC itself, and a summary of the first deployment period.
This report details the Maritime Fuel Cell (MarFC) Generator Project's activities from 2018 to 2023, co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration. The MarFC unit underwent various upgrades, repairs, and tests during this period, with significant learnings about its operational capabilities and challenges. In 2019, the unit was deployed to provide zero-emission shore power to the research vessel R/V Robert Gordon Sproul in San Diego. However, technical issues, combined with the Covid-19 pandemic, affected its consistent deployment. By 2022, due to age-related problems and other challenges, the decision was made to cease its deployment. The report also highlights lessons learned, such as the importance of robust power conditioning electronics and the high cost of hydrogen. It concludes with suggestions for future projects and a comparison of the project's results to its original objectives.
Read the full report here: